COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN COMPETITION AUTHORITIES IS OF KEY IMPORTANCE FOR MAKING THE MOST EFFICIENT DECISIONS
Head of FAS Department for International Economic Cooperation, Lesya Davydova was a speaker at the 7th China Competition Policy Forum
The 7th China Competition Policy Forum took place in Beijing (China) on 31 July - 1 August 2018. The event opened with the plenary session focused on development of competition law and enforcement.
Head of FAS Department for International Economic Cooperation, Lesya Davydovagave a report at the Plenary session, where she outlined FAS functions and structure, and highlighted the difference between Russian Antimonopoly Service and “classic” competition authorities. She informed the Forum about the order of the President of Russia “On the main directions of the state policy towards developing competition” and the National Competition Development Plan.
The speaker pointed out that the “importance of fair competition rules on the markets is being understood at all levels within the public administration system in Russia. These documents are of paramount importance for developing competition in Russian economy”.
She presented the most high-profile FAS cases such as “Google” and described the outcomes of investigating such global deals as “Yandex/Uber” and “Bayer/Monsanto”.
“FAS has reached two main conclusions, investigating global cases on violating the antimonopoly law and mergers. First, the antimonopoly law should be changed in view of globalized and growing market digitalization. Second, cooperation with foreign competition authorities, investigating similar cases and deals, will become of key significance for making the most efficient decisions”, said Lesya Davydova.
Finally, Head of FAS Department for International Economic Cooperation pointed out at efficient cooperation between competition authorities within BRICS. After signing BRICS Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of competition policy, competition bodies are pursuing result-oriented cooperation: BRICS Working Groups demonstrate performance (pharmaceuticals, car-making, global food product chains and digital markets), and hold consultations on particular cases (the most striking cooperation example is the “Bayer/Monsanto” merger).
Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, the US; Roger Alford, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, US Department of Justice; Carles Esteva Mosso, Deputy Director General Mergers, DG Competition, the European Commission; Kim Sang-jo, Chairperson, Korea Fair Trade Commission; Takashi Yamamoto, Commissioner, Japan Fair Trade Commission; Tembinkosi Bonakele, Chairman, South African Competition Commission; Alexandere Barreto de Souza, President, Administrative Council for Economic Defence of Brazil; Esteban Greco, Chairman, Argentinean National Competition Protection Commission; Roger Featherston, Commissioner, Australia Competition Commission; Michael Grenfell, Director, Enforcement, Competition and Markets Authority, the UK; Smita Jhingran, Secretary, India Competition Commission also took part in the Plenary session of the 7th China Competition Policy Forum. Special reports were given by Prof. William Kovacic, George Washington University; Frédéric Jenny, OECD Competition Committee Chairman; Prof. Alan Fells, Melbourne University.
Many Forum participants emphasized transformation of competition authorities in China: prior to March 2018 there were three bodies that are now combined in a single mega-regulator – the State Administration on Market Supervision.
“We are happy to take part in the 7th China Competition Policy Forum. Chinese competition authorities have always been the key partners for FAS. Our cooperation has continued for already more than 20 years and we hope that now, when the institutional system of competition protection in China is under transformation, and a new competition authority is being formed, our bilateral contacts and cooperation within BRICS will be even more efficient, particularly, under the frame of investigating particular cross-border cases”, commented Lesya Davydova.