Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)

Abstract

Since 2015, the theme of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) has emerged after the Philippines submitted a proposal on this issue in the WTO, calling for discussions to take place in a more sustained way. Yet, at present, the theme of MSMEs is mostly pushed by the major economic powers advocating new binding disciplines and increased market access. In particular, new WTO E-commerce disciplines are being pushed by the international business community as an MSME issue. However, this E-commerce MSME agenda is in fact the agenda of large corporations. This paper looks at the issue of Micro and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and the WTO. Section A introduces the 2015 Philippine proposal. Section B looks at the outcomes of the discussions on MSMEs in 2016. Section C questions the need to seek appropriate arrangements within the existing WTO framework to discuss the issue of MSMEs in a more sustained manner. Section D focuses on the ICC/B20 report ‘MSMEs and e-commerce’ which proposes a new WTO e-commerce agreement. Section E provides a conclusion.