Chinese Taipei , 2011

1. Chinese Taipei, 2011

2. BENEFITS OF THE TRADE AGREEMENTS AND TRADE LIBERALIZATION

3. The Trade Agreements offer benefits for the countries that provide both the consumer side and producers, whether large, medium and small businesses.The most visible benefit is the increase in the international trade with partner countries and regions. The following graph shows the evolution of trade in Mexico to the world and to the main partner regions.

4. Mexico World Trade (Millions of Dollars) Imports Total Trade Exports Mexico- North America Trade (Millions of Dollars) Mexico - European Union Trade (Millions of Dollars) Exports Imports Total Trade Exports Imports Total Trade

5. DYNAMIC OF OPERATION. • Lowerprices to consumers Preferential Entry New marketniches • Increases the profitability of exports TariffElimination Access to Markets • Encouragescompetition • Simple Steps • Reduction of non-tariffbarriers Fairconditions of competence Clear legal framework • Certainty to the investor IntellectualPropertyProtection InvestmentOpportunities • Attracting FDI • Incentive fortechnologicaldevelopment • BetterWages • More Business

6. ForeignInvestment Millions of dollars

7. Mexico has signed trade agreements on 3 continents, and it stands as a gateway to a potential market of over one million consumers and 60 percent of world GDP.Mexico has a network of 11 free trade agreements covering 43 countries. Also has 6 Economic Complementation Agreements. We have signed Agreements for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (which promote legal protection of capital flows to the productive sector) with 25 countries and signed agreements to avoid Double Taxation with more than 31 countries. TRADE AGREEMENTS

8. EFTA FTA Iceland Liechtenstein Norway Switzerland MERCOSUR ALADI (Framework Agreement) Entry into force of the WTO NAFTA US Canadá FTA Israel Mexico's accession to GATT FTA Costa Rica FTA EU FTA Uruguay FTA Chile EPA Japan G3 Colombia FTA FTA Nicaragua

9. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRADE LIBERALIZATION FACING SMEs

10. WHY DO WE EXPORT IN THE NAFTA REGION?

11. 1. I know that there is demand for my product in other NAFTA countries, but I don´t know where to start looking for customers. Where do I begin? Each of the NAFTA countries has agencies or offices that help businesses develop new international markets for their products. EXPORTING IN NORTH AMERICA: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

12. 2. How do I find out whether my product is subject to a duty in one of other NAFTA countries? On January 1, 2008, the last scheduled duties and quotas were eliminated. However, not every good shipped from one country to another is eligible for duty-free treatment under the NAFTA. In order to receive NAFTA treatment, the product must meet the rule of origin. These rules underline the production that must occur in order for a product to be eligible for NAFTA treatment. For example, a product imported into one NAFTA country from outside North America, then shipped onward to another NAFTA country may not qualify for duty-free treatment.

13. 3. What is a Certificate of Origin? The NAFTA Certificate of Origin is used by the United States, Canada and Mexico to determine if imported goods are eligible to receive reduced or eliminated duty as specified by the NAFTA. For purposes of obtaining preferential tariff treatment, this document must be completed legibly and in full by the exporter and be in the possession of the importer at the time the declaration is made. This document may also be completed voluntarily by the producer for use by the exporter.

14. 4. I´d like to export, but I need help with financing. What resources are available? Each of the NAFTA countries has its own export financing programs. In some cases, you may be eligible to receive working capital, export insurance, or other assistance.

15. SMEs CURRENT SITUATION

16. THE LACK OF A STRATEGY Our SMEs were not prepared for the opening of a globalized world: • Organizational and technological problems • Effect of negative externality on manufacturing (among these is the exchange rate with a tendency towards overvaluation and facilities in tax refunds in the import of raw materials for export).

17. Asymmetric economic and financial conditions of operation where smaller segments of manufacturing enterprises are not encouraged to join the international competition • The ineffectiveness of the policies and plans for the promotion of SMEs and impulse to an entrepreneurship • Coinvestment of manufacturing industry to the maquila model • Rapid opening to imports of consumer goods, elimination of prior import licenses and the unilateral reduction of tariffs, resulted in the lack of care in keeping the proper tariff consistency.

18. SMEs in Mexico constitute a strategic sector for the economic and social development of the country, unfortunately in Mexico, this segment is under a constant cycle of opening and bankruptcy that many times is inevitable, because the current situation surrounding them is characterized by requiring a high level of adaptability to constant changes in their environment, mainly in the macroeconomic field.

19. Also they are surrounded by serious problems: • Limited access to financing sources • Higher interest rates in developed countries • Limited participation in foreign trade, as there are not many opportunities for companies to export and be competitive • Lack of linkage with Universities and R&DC

20. Inefficient promoting programs • Lack of coordination among national programs • Weak structure in its organization and operation • Globalization, rapid technological changes and obsolescence of technology, machinery and equipment • High costs of raw materials and components, and limited bargaining power

21. Nowadays one of the greatest obstacles to the export process of SMEs stems from the lack of knowledge, by the entrepreneur, in how external markets behave, which is reflected in the following aspects: • The mistakes in the adequacy of the product to the requirements of the external market and competitiveness with major enterprises (via low-cost, payment of wages and regulatory compliance) PROBLEMS IN THE EXPORT SECTOR TO TRADE LIBERALIZATION

22. The lack of information about international markets and financial inability to develop promotional strategies in foreign markets (advertising, direct marketing, public relations, sales promotion) • The absence of training in access to appropriate distribution channels and training in international marketing

23. All these factors, cause that the useful life of SMEs, become short, bringing as a consequence: unemployment, low sales, depreciation of enterprises, limited market resulting in inability of international insertion, poor economy, low social efficiency, low quality of life, among others. • If this problem is not overcome, it is very unlikely that SMEs take advantage of the great opportunities that the global market offers.

24. COMMON CHALLENGES FOR SMEs

25. There are more than 37,000 exporting companies • 500 firms concentrate 83% of the exports • 8 regions concentrate more than ¾ parts of the total exports • 5 of 19 manufacturing sectors concentrate more than 70% of the total exports CHALLENGES OF FOREIGN TRADE More SMEs More regions DEMOCRATIZATION More sectors OF THE OPENING

26. AlthoughSMEs comprise the majority of firms in each of the NAFTA countries, the majority of them do not export. SMEs accounted for approximately 30 percent of U.S. merchandise exports between 1997 and 2007. In 2007, only nine percent of Canadian SMEs exported goods and services but 47 percent of their total revenues came from those exports. In 2008, SMEs in Canada were responsible for 35 percent of total value of exports. Mexico indicated that 99 percent of Mexican companies are classified as SMEs. They are responsible for 72 percent of national employment, but less than six percent of Mexico´s SMEs export. 1. Amount of exports

27. 2. Access to information about foreign markets Access to information about foreign markets remains a challenge for SMEs. • insufficient access to finance • complex and sometimes nontransparent domestic and foreign regulations • rising and unpredictable transportation costs • the small scale of SME production • tariff and nontariff barriers • time-consuming foreign customs procedures • language and cultural differences, and • lack of knowledge of foreign markets.

28. 3. Access to financing Access to financing plays an important role for SMEs. Lack of access to trade financing can reduce trade and worsen economic downturns. The financial crisis decreased the supply of available trade financing and increased the perceived risk associated with international transactions. Although all types of firms were hurt by the downturn, SMEs have been particularly vulnerable because of their more limited access to funds. Larger companies obtain much of their financing in equity and bond markets –sources that smaller firms largely cannot access. Banks are the main source of external finance for SMEs. During the downturn, bank loans for smaller companies have been harder to obtain and more costly than loans for larger firms, despite the greater importance of such financing for small firms.

29. 4. Exports culture When North America SMEs do begin to export, they are most likely to export to a customer in one of the NAFTA countries . A 2005 Industry Canada report noted that Canadian SMEs largely export to the United States, regardless of their size, although evidence suggests that small enterprises may be focusing more on new markets than their medium and large counterparts. For Canadian SMEs, The United States and Mexico represented 74 percent and one percent, respectively, of the total value of SME exports in 2008. For U.S. firms, Canada and Mexico represented 22 percent of total SME exports between 2002 and 2007. The situation for Mexico is similar.

30. The parties developed “Opportunities for Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises in North America”, a brochure that answers basic questions about exporting in North America and provides links to helpful government resources. b) To continue the work on competitiveness, which will drive down costs for business of all sizes. Governments agreed to consult with agencies responsible for export promotion and small business development in order to explore the following four areas: • Supporting for small business development centers and creation of regional SME-to-SME initiatives to promote matchmaking opportunities between businesses. STRATEGIES

31. Training and export assistance programs for SMEs • Promoting export opportunities for competitive industries, including increased SMEs engagement as suppliers and therefore indirect exporters along North America supply chains, and • Enhancing access to export financing for SMEs by sharing best practices. c) Governments agreed to work with agencies responsible for small business and export promotion in order to address one of the biggest hurdles to exporting: • changing the mindset from focusing on domestic sales only to exporting. • Identifying and contacting prospective buyers in other NAFTA countries should be the first step that North American SMEs take to begin to export.

32. (1) Increase efforts to disseminate information about the NAFTA through engagement with SMEs. (2) Explore regional cooperation mechanisms to formalize cooperation in this matter and provide concrete results for SMEs. (3) Where appropriate, develop additional “plain language” material for use by SMEs. (4) Explore use of virtual networks to facilitate contact between SMEs. CONCLUSIONS

33. SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES WILL BE COMPETITIVE IF THEY SPECIALIZED AND BECOME CONSCIOUS OF THE NECESITY TO ENGAGE IN DIFFERENT FIELDS: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION; USE OF NEW PRODUCTIVE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES.

34. NEXT GENERATION TRADE AND INVESTMENT ISSUES PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL PRODUCTION CHAINS

35. Mexicoproposesto address the issue of enhancing SMEs participation in global production chains through: • Defining core principles that could be included, on a voluntary basis, in the XXI century FTAs. • Developing capacity building activities, such as carrying out a seminar to exchange experiences on public policies and collaboration between trading partners, to incorporate SMEs in global production chains. PROPOSAL

36. APECcould promote the inclusion of a set of recommendations in free trade agreements, to encourage parties to cooperate in the promotion and development of supporting industries in order to foster trade and investment in the region. These recommendations could include: • To assist private enterprises of either Party to enter supporting industries market of the other Party through direct investment or joint ventures. • To assist private enterprises of supporting industries to establish their business ties with other private enterprises of supporting industries, as well as final goods suppliers. CORE PRINCIPLES

37. To assist actual or potential private enterprises of supporting industries trough financial and technological support; • To exchange experts and information on best practices and methodologies for the development of supporting industries. • To develop human resources on: entrepreneurial incubation, technical skills, and industrial standardization. • To assist interested parties to enhance capabilities to create policies to expand SMEs´ access to ICT. CORE PRINCIPLES

38. APEC economies that have developed programs to foster the participation of SMEs as supporting industries to other enterprises which participate trade could share their experiences both positive and negative, so as to allow all APEC economies to learn from such experiences. The seminar could include items such as: public polices established by governments to develop local providers to international trading companies established within their territory; joint programs agreed between parties of an FTA, both government to government and government to private sector ; sectorial experiences; methodologies to measure the results of those public policies and joint programs ; case studies; among others. EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE AND BEST PRACTICES