The implementation of competition policy and deregulation provides markets with a framework that encourages market discipline, eliminates distortions and promotes economic efficiency.
APEC's Competition Policy and Law Group (CPLG) therefore works to promote an understanding of regional competition laws and policies, to examine the impact on trade and investment flows, and to identify areas for technical cooperation and capacity building among member economies.
The CPLG, formerly known as Competition Policy and Deregulation Group, was established in 1996, when the Osaka Action Agenda (OAA) work programmes on competition policy and deregulation were combined. In 1999 APEC Ministers endorsed the APEC Principles to Enhance Competition and Regulatory Reform and approved a "road map" which established the basis for subsequent work on strengthening markets in the region.
In 2008 members agreed to change the name of the group to the Competition Policy and Law Group to reflect the fact the regulatory aspects of competition are now being discussed within the framework of the
Economic Committee (EC).
The CPLG meets once annually and its most recent meeting was held in March 2011 in Washington DC, the United States. At CPLG meetings, member economies have the opportunity to update other members on their respective competition policies and laws, including recent cases. Challenges to competition policy and competition advocacy efforts are also discussed.
Members’ Dialogue on Competition Advocacy are also held where views are exchanged on topics related to institutions, objectives and priorities; challenges and obstacles and strategies to effective competition advocacy; use of tools developed by international organizations; and assessment of the effectiveness of competition advocacy efforts.
- Achievements
- Current Activities
- Contacts
- News
- Events
Utilising the APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform
Organised by Indonesia, this seminar explored ways to apply the "
APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform." The Checklist provides instruction on a range of public sector reforms that include regulations, competition policy and market openness. The seminar covered the two core areas of regulatory reform and competition policy and law. The outcomes were recommendations for actions that would enable APEC member economies to make better use of the Checklist in policy harmonisation.
APEC Training Course on Competition Policy
A training course addressing selected aspects of competition policy is run by CPLG on an annual basis. The first of these courses was held in 2005, and the fifth and last in this series was held in August 2009. The training courses, which are aimed at contributing towards the "APEC Principles to Enhance Competition and Regulatory Reform", provide technical cooperation and assistance focused on building capacity, especially in developing economies. The courses are designed to be attended by the staff of competition agencies in APEC economies.
The training courses run from 2005 to 2009 have focused on the following competition issues:
(1) Abuse of Dominant Position, Organisation and Function of Competition Agency;
(2) Regulation of Business Combination, Competition Advocacy;
(3) Competition Policy and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Effective Implementation of Competition Policy and Law;
(4) Challenges for Cartel Cases in Domestic/International Markets, Competition Policy and Industrial Policy;
(5) Vertical Restraints and Interrelations between Competition Policy and Consumer Protection Policy.
In 2009, the CPLG agreed to hold a series of three new training courses on competition policy over the period of 2010 to 2012.Two training courses have been organised thus far. They include:
- APEC Training Course on Competition Advocacy, which was held in September 2010 in Viet Nam;
- APEC Training Course on Effective Mechanisms Against Cartel Offences, which was held in Penang, Malaysia in October 2011.
The next training course, “APEC Training Course on best practices in dealing with abuse of dominant practices in Competition Policy”, is being proposed for 2012 by Indonesia and Japan.
The Competition Policy and Law Database
This Competition Policy and Law Database is managed by Chinese Taipei and covers all APEC member economies. The database gives effect to the Osaka Action Agenda which, inter alia, calls on APEC economies to "gather information and promote dialogue on and study ... the objectives, necessity, role and operation of each APEC economy's competition policy and/or laws and administrative procedures, thereby establishing a database on competition policy...". The database will provide access to the various competition policies and laws in force within APEC member economies and can be viewed at
www.apeccp.org.tw.
At the CPLG meeting held in Washington DC in March 2011, the Second CPLG-APEC Business Advisory Group joint session was held to discuss the issue of procedural importance to proceedings in the context of mergers and non-mergers. The session provided an opportunity for APEC competition authorities and businesses to share their perspectives on the issue.
The CPLG met in Moscow, Russia in February 2012. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Yukinari Sugiyama of the Japan Free Trade Commission (JFTC). Members discussed its main activities and work plan for the year, including updates on the three projects to be undertaken:
- Survey on information exchange on competition in APEC, which is being organized by Russia and which is currently underway;
- Measures of competition development in APEC (currently underway and coordinated by Russia) and
- An APEC Training Course on best practices in dealing with abuse of dominant practices in Competition Policy (proposed by Indonesia and Japan).
In addition to the new projects for 2012, the CPLG work plan for the year also includes continued updates to the Competition Policy and Law Database and developments of competition policy in member economies. During the Moscow meeting, a members’ dialogue on competition assessment was also undertaken.
Yukinari SUGIYAMA (Mr)
Convenor
Director of the International Affairs Division
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
6-B building, Chuo Godo Chosha
1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8987
Email:
Cc:
apec-jftc@jftc.go.jp
Myung-hee YOO (Ms)
Program Director
APEC Secretariat
Email: