Policymakers
View GuideThe United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is a UN body headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a specific focus on developing countries. It supports enterprise development through training and projects, among other duties. A full list of their enterprise development resources, including UNCTAD’s entrepreneurship policy framework and a Global Initiative towards post-Covid-19 resurgence of the MSME sector, are available here. UNCTAD also offers the following MSME-relevant resources, including the following: Information on e-commerce and an e-commerce readiness assessment for national economies. Trade training and capacity building focused on non-tariff measures and other trade measures that can impact MSMEs. Information on transport, logistics and trade facilitation, including ASYCUDA. ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) is a computerized customs management system from UNCTAD that covers most foreign trade procedures, including manifests, customs declarations, accounting procedures, and transit and suspense procedures. ASYCUDA can speed up and facilitate the customs clearance process, benefiting all businesses, especially MSMEs.
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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a Paris-based body with 38 member countries. Among other areas of responsibility, its secretariat provides a broad range of policy research and data to support the economic development and inclusion of entrepreneurs and SMEs. Their SME, entrepreneurship, and tourism webpage can be accessed here. Other resources include: Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is an important focus of the OECD. The OECD provides analyses and information on entrepreneurship policies, including case studies and reviews. In this context, the OECD examines primarily the obstacles and enablers of entrepreneurship for industrial transition and growth. Financing SMEs The OECD has included financing SMEs as one part of its research and policy recommendations. Through the documentation of SME finance trends and the sharing of knowledge and learning in this subject, the OECD seeks to strengthen SMEs’ access to credit. The G20 & SME Agenda The G20 & SME agenda, in particular as regards SME finance, has been pushed by the OECD as an important piece of international SME policy. Ways that the OECD has contributed to this work include through the G20/OECD High-Level Principles on SME Financing and the report on G20/OECD Effective Approaches for Implementing the G20/OECD High-Level Principles on SME Financing. Other examples include its contribution to platforms like the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI). The OECD iLibrary The OECD iLibrary is an important resource that provides searchable access to OECD research, including on SMEs. SME Digitalisation SME Digitalisation, and the OECD “Digital for SMEs Global Initiative,” is a platform for OECD governments, large business, industry experts, and the SMEs themselves to work together on the digital transformation of SMEs. The initiative’s focus is on providing research, SME experience sharing, and a space for policy dialogue on SMEs and digitalization. SME Performance Analysis An SME Performance analysis by the OECD in conjunction with national and local governments can be undertaken to analyze the potential of SMEs in a specific economy and examine how to unlock this capacity. SME Ministerial Meeting The 2018 SME Ministerial Meeting was a ministerial-level conference of 55 OECD Member and Non-Member countries, as well as international organizations and associations. Held in Mexico, the conference was held to discuss ways to enhance SME productivity and inclusive growth. At the end of the session, the 55 countries adopted the Declaration on Strengthening SMEs and Entrepreneurship for Productivity and Inclusive Growth (also available in French). SME Sustainability The OECD Platform on Financing SMEs for Sustainability is a multi-stakeholder platform seeking to facilitate SMEs’ access to sustainable finance and to increase momentum toward the green transition. The OECD has also launched a global dialogue on SME Sustainability reporting to create a supportive ecosystem that empowers SMEs to embrace sustainability as a pathway to growth, resilience, and innovation.
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The International Trade Centre
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO), with its mission focusing specifically on small and medium-sized enterprises. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and maintains a variety of tools and resources for policymakers and SMEs. These include the following from their Market Info & Tools web page. E-learning Training on a variety of trade topics for policymakers and MSMEs is available through the SME Trade Academy, including on topics like the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement or how to develop e-commerce content. Market Analysis Tools These are the ITC’s tools for MSMEs and policymakers. They provide information on export and import statistics from more than 220 countries and territories on about 5,300 internationally traded products. These tools include: Trade Map Market Access Map Investment Map Trade Competitiveness Map Procurement Map Export Potential Map Sustainability Map Market Information Market information is provided by the ITC for MSMEs and policymakers through resources including the Market Insider blog and the Global Trade Helpdesk. The Global Trade Helpdesk is an initiative in coordination with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the WTO, linking to many ITC market analysis tools and other important trade resources. Library An online library of trade-information sources is publicly available. The library’s online catalogue is available to all users, as is a full list of ITC publications. Relevant reports for policymakers include the ITC’s flagship SME Competitiveness Outlook (SMECO) and policymaker guides such as Getting Down to Business: Making the Most of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
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World Intellectual Property Organization
WIPO is the UN agency devoted to intellectual property (IP), with headquarters in Geneva. It is home to several IP treaties and also hosts several resources for policymakers, businesses, and other interested parties. A summary of these resources is provided below. WIPO IP Diagnostic WIPO provides an online IP self-assessment tool, which was launched in November 2021. The tool includes a questionnaire on several IP-related issues that may affect your business and generates a report upon the questionnaire’s completion. The tool is accessible online on the WIPO website. WIPO’s IP for Business Series of Guides WIPO also has several guides that outline how intellectual property issues can be dealt with by companies. The full series of guides can be accessed on the WIPO website, and a brief list of the key ones for MSMEs can be found below. Enterprising Ideas, A Guide to Intellectual Property for Startups (2021) Looking Good – An Introduction to Industrial Designs for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (updated and revised 2019). In Good Company: Managing Intellectual Property Issues in Franchising (revised 2019) Inventing the Future: An Introduction to Patents for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (updated and revised 2018) Making a Mark: An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (updated and revised 2017) Creative Expression: An Introduction to Copyright and Related Rights for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (2023) There are also several other guides in development, which should be available on the WIPO website in due course. SME Support Institutions Platform (SSIP) WIPO has a directory of institutions that can help unlock the value of intellectual property SME Support Institutions Platform (SSIP). IP Management for SMEs Program The Intellectual Property Management Clinic for SMEs Program (IPMC) is a four-month program that supports innovative companies in formulating their IP strategies based on their business plan and intangible assets portfolio IP Management Clinic for SMEs. IP Office Business Solutions WIPO also provides support for national IP offices as they develop their own services for domestic users. Further information on the support available is on the WIPO website. IPGAP Database WIPO’s IPGAP Database serves as a comprehensive resource showcasing global policies and initiatives that enhance women’s participation in innovation and intellectual property (IP) IPGAP Database. IP Advantage Case studies and stories on how intellectual property (IP) works in the real world, and how its successful exploitation can contribute to development IP Advantage. IP Backed Finance Country Perspective reports on Unlocking IP-backed Financing tracking how countries are tackling IP-Backed finance IP Backed Finance.
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World Trade Organization
Recognizing the importance of MSME trade inclusion, the WTO provides a number of different resources to support trade policymakers and traders. Aid for Trade Aid for Trade – The WTO-led Aid for Trade (A4T) initiative has referred to MSME needs and issues on various occasions. The 2018-19 Work Programme for Aid for Trade looked into how trade could contribute to economic diversification, empowerment, and poverty reduction through the effective participation of MSMEs, women, and youth. The programme also reviewed how A4T addresses trade-related infrastructure constraints, including for MSMEs. The work programme for 2020-22 stressed the importance of MSME-dominated sectors in boosting economic development. The Enhanced Integrated Framework The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) helps least developed country governments address constraints related to competitiveness, growth potential, and supply chain weaknesses, including specific constraints faced by MSMEs. The EIF is a partnership bringing together various countries, donors, and partner agencies. ePing ePing, a joint project by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the WTO, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), shares information on product requirements. Through the site, users are able to search sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT), receive alerts, and collaborate. Government Procurement The WTO’s Government Procurement Committee launched a work programme on MSMEs in 2012 to facilitate MSME participation in government procurement projects and to maximize their potential for growth. Increasing MSMEs’ participation in government procurement also ensures a more competitive bidding process, thus achieving better value for money in government purchases. Informal Working Group on MSMEs The Informal Working Group on MSMEs was launched at the WTO’s Eleventh Ministerial Conference in December 2017. The Group aims to identify and address obstacles to MSME participation in international trade. It currently consists of 91 WTO members and is open to all members. Documents issued by the Group are available on WTO Docs Online and are searchable as “INF/MSME/*”. Intellectual Property The Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is devoted to the implementation of the WTO’s intellectual property rules. In this context, WTO Members also exchange information about their policies aimed at supporting MSMEs’ creativity, inventiveness, and investments in research and technology. Members have recognized the particular significance of intellectual property rights for small businesses, whose intellectual capital is often their main asset. The MSME-related policies presented in that context include financial assistance schemes, efforts at streamlining application procedures, and enhanced transparency of intellectual property rules. The Standards and Trade Development Facility The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a partnership that helps governments improve the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, among other responsibilities. These efforts help increase trading opportunities for MSMEs. Trade and Gender To improve the inclusiveness of trade, some WTO Members have also been exploring how to support women’s economic empowerment through trade. This work is closely linked to the work on trade and MSMEs, with more information available at the following link. The Global Trade Helpdesk Finally, together with the ITC and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the WTO is one of the agencies behind the Global Trade Helpdesk.
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Single Windows and National Portals
What is a national single window? A national single window refers to a facility where actors involved in trade and transport share...
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Cyber readiness and cybersecurity
What is cybersecurity? Cybersecurity embodies a set of systems, processes, and actions that protect businesses from digital attacks.
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E-commerce Readiness Assessment
How can a country be ready for e-commerce? E-commerce readiness refers to a variety of policies, frameworks, and institutional actions that enable countries to engage effectively in e-commerce.
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Blockchain / Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)
What is blockchain? Blockchain, or distributed ledger technology (DLT), is a decentralized digital network of records that can be simultaneously accessed by all permitted users and that are automatically updated and validated if an authorized change is made. All changes are time-stamped and DLT transactions are based on consensus, replication, and immutability. This provides a high level of security, even in transactions where parties do not know each other or have other verification tools. Why does blockchain matter for MSMEs and trade? Blockchain technology holds the potential to facilitate trade transactions and access to finance, along with reducing costs. By providing an immutable record of transactions, MSME with access to IT infrastructure and the right digital know-how may be able to use this technology in their international trade dealings or provide alternative documentation to verify their credibility when trying to access finance. From identity management to smart contracts, a Finextra article entitled Blockchain: A game-changer for Small and Medium-sized enterprises provides additional information on the benefits of blockchain for MSMEs. What can policymakers do? While blockchain technology could reduce barriers for MSMES to engage more in international trade, there are a number of challenges that need to be overcome. Some challenges relate to blockchain technology adoption, including: scalability; security; interoperability; and the lack of clear legal framework. Other challenges relate to MSMEs themselves, including the lack of technical skills and internet access to adopt, use and seize the benefits of blockchain technology. Where can policymakers access more resources? The International Trade Centre’s (ITC) SME Academy: In partnership with the World Trade Organization, the ITC has a free online course called Introduction to Blockchain. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF): The ITIF has A Policymaker’s Guide to Blockchain that is a resource on what blockchain is and its applications. It also outlines considerations for regulating this technology. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU): The ITU provides a focus group on the application of distributed ledger technology. More information is available here. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): The OECD has several resources for policymakers on blockchain, including a chapter in their report entitled The Digital Transformation of SMEs. This chapter is called How can blockchain ecosystems serve SMEs. They also have a 2019 report on The Policy Environment for Blockchain Innovation and Adoption. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): The UNECE continues to look into blockchain technology and its relation to trade, including through events and papers such as the technical applications of blockchain in UN/CEFACT deliverables and blockchain in trade facilitation. UN/CEFACT refers to the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): UNCTAD has published A Policymaker’s Guide to Blockchain Technology Implementation and Innovation with practical information for policymakers on the regulatory requirements. The World Trade Organization: The WTO has published various reports related to DLT, including the 2018 World Trade Report on The future of world trade: How digital technologies are transforming global commerce, as well as Can blockchain revolutionize international trade? These reports provide insights into the ways this technology can impact trade and MSMEs. Other resources, including the above-mentioned joint online course with the ITC, are available here. Where can policymakers access best practices and national examples? The European Blockchain Partnership (EBP): This is an initiative to develop an EU strategy on blockchain and build a blockchain infrastructure for public services. Visit the EU Commission website. The Arab Regional Fintech Working Group: This working group published a report on Strategies for adopting DLT/ Blockchain Technologies in Arab Countries. The report includes recommendations and an overview of other national blockchain initiatives, including in Australia and the Russian Federation. The ITU Distributed Ledger Technology use cases: Visit the ITU website to access a series of cases studying how DLT is put into practice.
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Non-tariff Measures
What are non-tariff measures? Non-tariff measures are policy measures other than customs tariffs that can potentially affect traded goods by changing their quantities, prices, or both. They often aim to protect public health or the environment, and may imply information, compliance, and procedural costs. These measures apply to either imports or exports and are classified into 16 categories. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provides a full list of NTMs and their definitions. What are different types of non-tariff measures? Below is a table of three broad categories of NTMs as categorized by UNcTAD. The first two apply to importers, or buyers, and the last applies to exporters, or sellers. It is important to note that some of these NTMs, such as quotas and trade-related investment measures, are prohibited under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules except for specific circumstances. For more details, please see the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Technical measures on imports A Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures: These include measures to restrict substances, ensure food safety, and prevent the dissemination of diseases or pests. (See SPS guide) B Technical barriers to trade: These relate to product, technical, or quality requirements. They also include measures on labelling and packaging. (See TBT guide) C Pre-shipment inspection and other customs formalities: These involve other technical measures. Non-technical measures on imports D Contingent measures: These include antidumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures. E Licensing and quotas: These also cover quantity controls and other related restrictions. F Price control measures: These affect the prices of imported goods. G Finance measures: These restrict payment of imports and terms of payment (see guide). H Competition measures: These grant privileges to one or more economic operators. I Trade-related investment measures: These impose local content or export conditions on investment. J Distribution restrictions: These regulate the internal distribution of imported products. K Restrictions on post-sales services: These restrict, for example, the provision of accessory services. L Subsidies and other forms of support: These include financial transfers to enterprises, individuals, or households. M Government procurement restrictions: These restrict bidders from selling products to a foreign government. N Intellectual property: These involve restrictions or rules related to intellectual property rights. O Rules of origin: These are criteria involving the origin of products or their inputs, which can affect whether these are subject to restrictions, duties, or other measures. (see guide) Exports P Export-related measures: include export quotas and other export prohibitions. Why are NTMs a barrier to MSME trade? Like duties and charges, NTMs entail additional costs that businesses have to bear when complying with trade-related procedures. Meeting standards and certification requirements, for example, can involve significant investment by a business to ensure a product meets safety or environmental regulations, in particular when such requirements are not properly informed. While NTMs hinder the ability of small and large firms alike to trade, the smaller ones are often more affected. A survey conducted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) has revealed that more than half of the small businesses surveyed across 23 countries reported being affected by NTM-related trade obstacles, compared to around two-fifths of large firms. Some of the reasons that make NTMs obstacles for small businesses to trade include time constraints, poor transparency, administrative burdens, and discriminatory behavior by officials. What should policymakers consider? Policymakers can play a role in partnering with business support organizations to assist small businesses in complying with NTMs imposed both at home and abroad. The ITC’s SME Competitiveness Outlook 2016, “Meeting the Standard for Trade,” proposes eight areas where policymakers can take actions to reduce burdensome procedures resulting from NTMs. These areas include access to information, firm capacity, technical infrastructure, public-private partnerships, border obstacles, and international mechanisms. Where can policymakers access more resources? International Classification of NTMs – 2019 version: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provides a taxonomy of NTMs typically applied by countries. Visit the UNCTAD website. ITC Program on NTMs: The ITC assists countries in increasing trade transparency by identifying non-tariff obstacles that exist in business sectors. It does so by conducting NTM business surveys, undertaking regulatory mappings, and providing policy guidance on follow-up actions in response to NTMs. Visit the ITC website. NTMs to Trade: UNCTAD has conducted a study to analyze the utilization, methods of quantification, and impacts of NTMs, showing the implications of these measures for developing countries. Visit the UNCTAD website. Where can policymakers access good practices or national examples? ITC Series on NTMs: The ITC conducts country-level surveys that identify business obstacles and bottlenecks posed by NTMs, providing insights on areas for policy actions. Visit the ITC website. Country and Region Experiences with Streamlining NTMs: The World Bank has compiled experiences that developing countries have had in reforming processes related to NTMs to advance trade facilitation objectives. Visit the World Bank website. Trade Obstacles Alert in the ECOWAS Region: The ITC has partnered with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to design a website that identifies trade barriers encountered by businesses in the region to facilitate the monitoring and removal of burdensome procedures. Visit the ECOWAS Trade Obstacles Alert. Streamlining NTMs in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia has identified areas where countries from East Asia and the Pacific can further improve progress in removing NTMs that affect intra-regional trade. Visit the ERIA website.
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Intellectual Property Protection and Disputes
What is intellectual property (IP) and what are IP rights? IP refers to creations of the mind and includes inventive products or processes, designs, distinctive signs, and creative works.
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Gender
Trade and Gender There is a growing body of research showing that while international trade can be important for business development, innovation, and resilience, there is a need for trade to become more inclusive. Barriers exist not just for MSMEs to trade, but also more specifically for women traders and entrepreneurs, complicating their efforts at realizing the benefits of trade’s economic opportunities. Trade can foster women’s economic empowerment and advance gender equality. Governments can make this possible through the development and implementation of gender-responsive trade policies, as well as by implementing the WTO Agreements with a gender lens. Trade policy can support women entrepreneurs by lifting the many additional obstacles they face through financial and non-financial incentives, government procurement, or capacity building in trade. Why MSMEs and Gender? Women entrepreneurs constitute a significant share of MSMEs globally. They represent about 30% to 37% (8–10 million) of all MSMEs in emerging markets (see MSME FINANCE GAP from 2017). In Nigeria, women represent 41% of micro-business owners, with 23 million female entrepreneurs operating in the country. Nigeria has one of the highest female entrepreneurship rates globally (the PWC report can be found here). Women entrepreneurs mostly own, and lead, micro enterprises and they are typically smaller than men-owned, or led, firms. For instance, in Canada, 92.7% of women-owned firms employ less than 20 staff members (the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada report can be found here). Their micro size makes competing in the international market very difficult and it is one of the many reasons why they are not integrated in the global market (See Unlocking Markets for Women to Trade for more information). Women entrepreneurs not only face the same trade challenges as MSMEs, such as relatively higher cost burdens imposed by non-tariff measures and customs procedures, they can also face additional barriers and trade costs such as legal prohibitions to economic participation, additional discrimination for access to finance, and unequal access to the digital economy due to the persisting gender digital divide. Where can policymakers access more resources? For more resources on trade and gender, please see: The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) women and trade website contains information on relevant resources and events, as well as a link to the WTO informal working group on trade and gender webpage. Published in 2020, a World Trade Organization and World Bank report, Women and Trade: The role of trade in promoting gender equality, looks at the role of trade in promoting gender equality and provides new information and data on this important topic. Other papers of interest are: Women’s economic empowerment: an inherent part of Aid for Trade “; Gender Provisions in African Trade Agreements: Assessment of the Commitments for Reconciling Women’s Empowerment and Global Trade ; and Trade Policies Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment: Trends in WTO Members. The International Trade Centre’s (ITC) women and trade webpage links to resources including the ITC’s SheTrades initiative, which is a platform for women-owned businesses, organizations, and companies to connect, access workshops, and find suppliers. The ITC also issued a publication in 2020 on Mainstreaming Gender in Free Trade Agreements, among other relevant reports. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also has a trade and gender webpage with related research and publications on ways trade can contribute to women’s economic empowerment. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provides a webpage on gender equality, its importance for sustainable development, and the role for trade. This webpage features all recent publications, projects, and events on the subject. The World Bank’s trade and gender webpage is another resource linking to relevant publications and upcoming events on women and trade. Where can policymakers access good practices or national examples? The WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender has prepared a progress report outlining the technical work that WTO Members and Observers have undertaken on women’s economic empowerment. It can be accessed at the WTO website
