The set of Singapore issues, both individually and jointly, aim to ensure and protect the free entry and exit of TNCs in developing countries. These four Singapore issues are designed to reach and impact behind the border measures that are judged restrictive to TNCs’ access to domestic markets. These instruments, jointly and individually, will have an adverse impact on governments' ability to develop industrial policies that promote SMEs and local capital as part of long-term sustainable and gender sensitive economic development. Women-owned, historically disadvantaged minority-owned and other SMEs, often under- capitalized in developing countries, are not able to compete with the unrestrained and unregulated presence of giant TNCs from developed countries. Investors should not be able to initiate dispute settlement against states as is presently the case in NAFTA’s Chapter 11. WTO agenda is fully overloaded. The WTO members should focus on resolving the implementation issues and promoting Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries to fulfill the mandate of the Doha "Development" Declaration.

IGTN Long-Range Advocacy

• Reduce the scope of the WTO to specific trade issues.
• Oppose binding multilateral agreements, subject to dispute settlement process, on government procurement or transparency in government procurement, competition policy, investment and trade facilitation.
• Oppose a multilateral investment agreement. 
• Support international cooperation on issues of anti-competitive practices that are injurious to economic development and social equity.
• Government procurement policies and procedures must remain in the domestic domain, determined by national interests, needs and priorities.
• Existing WTO rules are already adequate for trade facilitation. To promote better trade facilitation, a resolution of the issues of rules of origin and customs evaluation is needed.

The following IGTN resources offer an introduction to the Singapore Issues:

Reasons and rationale for rejecting a TRIMs Plus, or multilateral investment agreement in the WTO.

What You Need to Know About - USAID Trade Related Capacity Building In Developing and Transition Countries

Additional resources are available in the IGTN Resource Library.