TPP - Chapter 24 - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

CHAPTER 24

SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Article 24.1. Information Sharing

1. Each Party shall establish or maintain a public information website containing information related to this Agreement, including:

(a) The content of this Agreement, including all annexes, tariff schedules, and specific rules of origin for goods;

(b) A summary of this Agreement; and

(c) Information designed for small and medium enterprises (hereinafter referred to as SMEs), including:

(i) a description of the provisions in this Agreement that the Parties consider relevant to SMEs; and

(ii) additional information that the Parties consider useful to SMEs interested in benefiting from the opportunities presented by this Agreement.

2. Each Party shall include in its electronic information sites links to:

(a) the equivalent information sites of other countries; and

(b) the information sites of its own government agencies and information sites that the Party considers useful for any person interested in buying, investing, or doing business in its territory.

3. Within the regulations and laws of each Party, the descriptions mentioned in paragraph 2(b) may include content on:

(a) customs regulations and procedures;

(b) regulations and procedures related to intellectual property rights;

(c) technical regulations, standards, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures related to imports and exports;

(d) regulations on foreign investments;

(e) business registration procedures;

(f) employment regulations; and

(g) tax information.

Each Party shall translate the above information into English where possible.

4. Each Party shall regularly review the information and links on the electronic sites described in paragraphs 1 and 2 to ensure that the information is up to date and accurate.

Article 24.2: Committee on SMEs

1. The Parties shall establish a Committee on SMEs (hereinafter referred to as the Committee), comprising representatives of the government of each Party.

2. The Committee's responsibilities include:

(a) Identifying ways to assist the SMEs of the Parties in taking advantage of trade opportunities according to this Agreement;

(b) Exchanging and discussing experiences and best practices of each Party in supporting and helping SMEs that are exporters related to training programs, trade education, trade finance, identifying trade partners in other Parties, and establishing good business information;

(c) Developing and promoting conferences, seminars, or other activities to inform SMEs of the benefits for SMEs under this Agreement;

(d) Exploring capacity-building opportunities to assist the Parties in developing and improving export advice programs, support, and training for SMEs;

(e) Proposing additional information that each Party may post on the electronic sites provided for under Article 24.1 (Information Sharing);

(f) Reviewing and coordinating the work programs of the Committee with those of other committees, working groups, and subsidiary bodies formed under this Agreement, as well as the work programs of relevant international bodies, to avoid duplication of work programs and to identify appropriate opportunities for cooperation, thereby enhancing the ability of SMEs to engage in trade and investment opportunities offered by this Agreement;

(g) Facilitating the development of programs to support SMEs' effective participation and integration into the global supply chain;

(h) Exchanging information to support monitoring the implementation of relevant SMEs-related provisions in this Agreement;

(i) Regularly reporting its activities to the Commission and making appropriate recommendations; and

(j) Considering other issues related to SMEs as decided by the Committee, including issues raised by SMEs regarding their ability to benefit from this Agreement.

3. The Committee shall meet within 1 year from the date this Agreement takes effect and shall organize subsequent meetings as necessary.

4. The Committee may seek cooperation with relevant experts and international donors in executing its programs and activities.

Article 24.3. Non-Application of Dispute Settlement Provisions

No Party shall apply the dispute settlement provisions under Chapter 28 (Dispute Settlement) to any matter arising under this Chapter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TPP - Chapter 00 - Preamble

TPP - Chapter 01 - General Provisions and Definitions

TPP - Chapter 02 - National Treatment and Market Access for Goods

TPP - Chapter 03 - Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures

TPP - Chapter 04 - Textiles and Apparel

TPP - Chapter 05 - Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation

TPP - Chapter 06 - Trade Remedies

TPP - Chapter 07 - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

TPP - Chapter 08 - Technical Barriers to Trade

TPP - Chapter 09 - Investment

TPP - Chapter 10 - Cross-Border Trade in Services

TPP - Chapter 11 - Financial Services

TPP - Chapter 12 - Temporary Entry for Business Persons

TPP - Chapter 13 - Telecommunications

TPP - Chapter 14 - Electronic Commerce

TPP - Chapter 15 - Government Procurement

TPP - Chapter 16 - Competition Policy

TPP - Chapter 17 - State-Owned Enterprises and Designated Monopolies

TPP - Chapter 18 - Intellectual Property

TPP - Chapter 19 - Labor

TPP - Chapter 20 - Environment

TPP - Chapter 21 - Cooperation and Capacity Building

TPP - Chapter 22 - Competitiveness and Business Facilitation

TPP - Chapter 23 - Development

TPP - Chapter 24 - Small and Medium Enterprises

TPP - Chapter 25 - Regulatory Coherence

TPP - Chapter 26 - Transparency and Anti-Corruption

TPP - Chapter 27 - Administrative and Institutional Provisions

TPP - Chapter 28 - Dispute Settlement

TPP - Chapter 29 - Exceptions and General Provisions

TPP - Chapter 30 - Final Provisions

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