APEC Officials LoginAPEC Groups
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Competition Policy and Law Group |
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 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 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 programs 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 on 21-22 February 2009 in Singapore. At CPLG meetings member economies have the opportunity to update members on their respective competition policies and laws, including recent cases. Challenges to competition policy and competition advocacy efforts are also discussed.
Achievements
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.
The 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 the current series of courses, is planned for 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 respective APEC economies.
The four training courses run from 2005 to 2008 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.
The APEC Conference on Competition Policy Issues in the Services Sectors was held jointly by the Group on Services (GOS), CPDG and the International Development Research Center (IDRC) in Lima, Peru in August, 2008. The purpose of this conference was to exchange views and to discuss current research and increase awareness of the linkages of the services sectors trade with competition policy issues.
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 OOA, 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 can be accessed by the public at www.apeccp.org.tw.
Current Activities
The Fifth Training Course on Competition Policy is proposed to be held in Chinese Taipei in August 2009. The proposal was endorsed by the CPLG and EC in their meetings in February 2009, but is subject to the approval of the APEC Budget and Management Committee. The Training Course plans to examine the issues of vertical restraints and the interrelationship between competition policy and consumer protection policy.
Competition Policy and Law Group (CPLG) - Key Contacts
Convenor
Toru Aizeki
Deputy Secretary General
International Affairs Division
Japan Fair Trade Commission
e-mail: apec-jftc@jftc.go.jp
APEC Secretariat
Mr. Stephen Wong
Director (Program)
E-mail: sw@apec.org