Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Home
Contact Us
FAQs
Site Map
Glossary
APEC Groups
Budget and Management Committee
Committee on Trade and Investment
Economic Committee
SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation
Other APEC Groups and Initiatives
You Are Here: Home > APEC Groups > Competition Policy and Deregulation Group
 
 
Competition Policy and Deregulation Group  
Competition Policy and Deregulation Group  

The Competition Policy and Deregulation Group (CPDG) aims to enhance the region's competitive environment. The globalization of business has highlighted the importance of competition issues. The CPDG, under the guidance of the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), works to develop an understanding of regional competition laws and policies, to examine the impact on trade and investment flows, and to identify areas for technical cooperation among Member Economies.

The CPDG was established in 1996, when the Osaka Action Agenda (OAA) work programs on competition policy and deregulation were combined. Amalgamation of the two groups occurred due to the fact that the two areas are mutually reinforcing and have synergistic effects.

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 2001, Member Economy Leaders agreed that the OAA should be broadened to "reflect fundamental changes in the global economy", including strengthening the functioning of markets. The implementation of competition policy and deregulation provides markets with a framework that encourages market discipline, eliminates distortions and promotes economic efficiency. Therefore, the area of competition policy/deregulation is one of the key elements contributing to both the "road map" and the broadening of the OAA.

The CPDG meets once a year in a two-day meeting at the margins of the CTI/Senior Official's Meeting 1 to enable stronger coordination with other APEC fora such as the Economic Committee (EC) and the Strengthening Economic Legal Infrastructure Co-ordinating Group (SELI), particularly on the issue of structural reform.

Top

Achievements

Utilizing the APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform
Organized by Indonesia,
this seminar explored ways to apply the "APEC?OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform" that provides instruction on a range of public sector reforms that include regulations, competition policy and market openness. Two core areas of discussion covered regulatory reform and competition policy and law. As a result, the outcomes were included as recommendations on actions that will enable APEC Member Economies to make better use of the checklist in policy harmonization.

The APEC Training Course on Competition Policy
This training course is implemented on an annual basis. It started in 2005 and will run until 2009. It is aimed at providing technical cooperation and assistance focused on building capacity, especially in developing economies, by better utilizing APEC's accumulated knowledge and expertise on competition policy and regulatory reform. The training is designed for staff of competition agencies in respective member economies and will continue to contribute to the "APEC Principles to Enhance Competition and Regulatory Reform." The second training course on competition policy was held in Thailand on August 8-10, 2006, under the themes of "Regulation on Business Combination" and "Competition Advocacy".

The Competition Policy and Law Database

This Competition Policy and Law Database is managed by Chinese Taipei and covers the whole of the APEC geographic area. Since 2005, the CPDG has promoted an experience-sharing discussion among its members regarding recent developments and updates in their competition policy and legislation.

Reviewed Operation and Terms of Reference

The CPDG finalized its review of operations and terms of reference which were then incorporated in the 2006 CTI Annual Report. The review also covered the CPDG Collective Action Plan (CAP) by removing actions that have been completed and adding new agreed collective actions.

Top

Current Activities

  • The 2007 APEC Training Course on Competition Policy, lead by Japan, is scheduled to be held from 1-3 August 2007 in Singapore. The themes are: (a) Competition Policy and Small & Medium Enterprises and (b) Effective Implementation of Competition Policy and Law.
  • Utilizing a common format for members' presentations on updates and employing a united approach to development of their Competition Policy and Law, including Regulatory Reform;
  • Developing follow-up activity for the dissemination of the APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform;
  • Considering future CPDG capacity building projects (such as workshops and/or seminars);
  • The CPDG work program in 2007 will, in addition, discuss issues such as:
  • The competition policy and deregulation aspects of Structural Reform under LAISR 2010; and
  • Exchange of information on the competition chapter of members' RTA/FTAs

Top


Competition Policy and Deregulation Group (CPDG) - Key Contacts

Convenor
Mr. Toshiyuki Nanbu
Director
International Affairs Division
Fair Trade Commission of Japan
e-mail:
Toshiyuki_Nanbu@jftc.go.jp


APEC Secretariat
Mr. Toni Widhiastono
Director (Program)
E-mail: tw@apec.org

Top


 
 
Print This Page
Send This Page
Within This Page
Achievements
Activities
Contact Information
Find Out More
CPDG Events
Strengthening Economic and Legal Infrastructure
Downloads
2000 Deregulation Report
(PDF,535 Kb)
External Related Links
APEC Competition Policy and Law Database