#SMEOutlook

Marion Jansen, Chief Economist, ITC Bruegel, Brussels, November 9, 2016

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Focus on standards and regulations

Comprehensive analysis

Global thought leader insights

Case studies

New econometric findings

Guidance for SME managers

5 Point Action Plan for Policy Makers

How to think strategically about standards: Regional snapshots

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2016

#SMEOutlook

Why is this report relevant for decision

makers in the EU

Anything grown, produced or trade is subject to standards

Competitiveness of EU SMEs matters for distribution of gains from trade within the EU:

NTMs EU exporters face matter: SMECO NTM findings are relevant

Consumer protection, environmental and social sustainability matter for EU consumers:

5 point action plan in SME Competitiveness Outlook (SMECO) 2016 is relevant

SMECO regional snapshots and country profiles provide info on where to invest and from where to source

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EU exporters face challenges

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Standards are not only set in

industrialized countries

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Regulatory burdens hit small firms twice

as hard as large firms

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Burdens are mainly linked to procedural

obstacles

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Importers face challenges when sourcing

from the EU

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Quality of national technical

infrastructure matters

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EU consumers demand “good”

trade

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Standards are in demand

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… but meeting standards is costly …

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Private versus and governmental standards

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Exploit synergies between the two

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Being part of an IVC reduces

costs for SMEs

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But only the most competitive

SMEs manage to enter IVCs

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Meeting the standard to trade

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Role for EU

technical

assistance???

EU regional

integration

EU SMEs Sourcing from partner countries

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The EU and the 5 point action plan

4. Strengthen Governance (free flow of goods within single market)

Joint EU standard setting:

Through CEN and CENELEC

EU national standard setters represented in EU bodies

Mutual recognition for products not subject to EU harmonisation legislation within single market

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Where to invest and from where

to source (examples)

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Asia Pacific

Still unexploited export potential in IT and

electronics

Chemicals are promising avenue for export

diversification (21% of the top 200 products

are in this sector)

International management and quality

standards well adopted in large economies

like China and India, but several other

economies in region are lagging behind

Shift from electronics/IT to chemicals will imply

shift from compatibility standards to consumer

protection standards.

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Sri Lanka

Still unexploited export potential in tea, textiles

and rubber-based products

Processed food and chemicals are promising

avenues for export diversification

International management standards relatively well

adopted. Immediate business environment strong

regarding regulatory aspects.

Processed food and chemicals are among most

regulated sectors. Role of consumer protection

standards potentially important in future.

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More on:

http://www.intracen.org/

smeoutlook/

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