International Competition Policy Training Program Plan

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By Fair Trade Commission

Republic of Korea

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  1. Background

    Following the conclusion of the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations, competition policy is emerging as one of the key issues in international trade talks.

    Moreover, in the last WTO ministerial meeting, it was decided that a working group would be established to study issues relating to the interaction between trade and competition policy.

    At the same time, active discussions regarding the establishment of an international code harmonizing the diverse competition policies around the world are underway in international organizations, such as the OECD and the UNCTAD.

    Therefore, international cooperation in competition policy has become more important than ever.

    However, as is well known, the APEC economies are not all at similar stages of development in their respective competition laws and policies.

    The concepts and coverage of competition laws and policies often differ by countries basically because of differing levels of economic development as well as different cultural backgrounds. Some countries have less experience in competition laws and practices than others, while some are equipped with comprehensive competition laws and policies.

    Thus, as a way of narrowing this rather wide range of competition related developments, technical assistance and exchange of competition enforcement personnel have often been suggested as top priority means in forming a common ground among APEC members.

  1. Program Overview

    In 1996, Korea hosted a training program on competition policy in Seoul between September 10 and 13, fulfilling its role as a bridgehead between the advanced nations and developing nations in the field of competition policy.

    Some 24 public officials in charge of competition policy in developing economies attended the program, including 17 participants from 8 APEC economies, and the program received positive reviews from the OECD and the UNCTAD.

    To continue such efforts on a steady basis, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) plans to hold a second training program as a sequence to the first training program held last year. Through the program, KFTC plans to provide lectures on key issues relating to competition law as well as to introduce the Korean competition authority's experience accumulated over the past 15 years of competition law enforcement.

    The program will last five days, filled with lectures and discussions about various themes which will be introduced in the lectures. Also, the participants of the program will be asked to hand in papers on case studies concerning the themes.

    This program will be co-sponsored by the KFTC and the Korea Development Institute.

  1. Date

    4-8 August 1997

  1. Location

    Seoul (final venue yet to be confirmed)

  1. Schedule of the training program (subject to change)

09:30 : Opening address (President, KDI)

09:45 : Welcoming address (Chairman, Korea Fair Trade Commission)

10:00 : The Role of Competition Law and Policy in Economic Development

12:00 : Lunch

14:00 ~ 16:00: Introduction of topic-related cases and open discussion

(Participants present their papers about the above topic and all

participants discuss freely)

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Moderator : organizer from KDI

Panelist : F. Jenny, Terry Winslow, Geoff Conner,

official from KFTC

10:00 : Market definition and Abuse of Dominant Position

12:00 : Lunch

14:00 ~ 16:00 : Introduction of topic-related cases and open discussion

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Moderator : organizer from KDI

Panelist : The same as Monday

10:00 : Types of and Criteria for "Cartel"

12:00 : Lunch

14:00 ~ 16:00 : Introduction of topic-related cases and open discussion

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Panelist : The same as Monday

10:00 : Criteria for Business Combination Examination

12:00 : Lunch

14:00 ~ 16:00 : Types of Vertical Restraints and its Anti-Competitive Effect

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10:00 ~ 13:00 : - General discussion among all participants on the issues they raise:

Panelists also participate

- Comments by the participants on the program

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  1. Participation

Participants are asked to make confirmations by 15 May by mailing (or by E-mailing) or telefaxing to Park, Sang Yong a copy of the attached participant reply form.

The number of participants will be limited to two persons per nation and to government officials who take part in the decision-making process of competition policy. Also, the official language in the program will be English. Therefore all participants should be able to communicate in English (easily).

In addition, each participant will be asked to select one of the topics to be taken up in the program and prepare a paper on that topic for introduction of theme-related cases.

For participants from economies which have yet to adopt competition laws, the first topic �� "The role of competition law and policy" �� could be a case in point where they could discuss issues that need to be resolved through competition laws or talk about their specific concerns relating to competition law.

With the exception of the first topic, all participants will be asked to submit theme-related case reports of describing their experiences in enforcement efforts. The format of the report should be in the following order:

  1. Introduction/overview of the case,
  2. Definition of the relevant market,
  3. Economic analysis of the investigation, and
  4. Conclusion.

The participants are asked to submit these papers by June 20.

Also, please indicate which topic you selected for your paper in your participant reply form. Based on that information, the organizer will arrange the presentation schedule of participations.

Pending duration of the training program, all trainees' lodging expenses will be provided by the organizer. The KFTC can provide travel expenses (air fare) for some participants on a case-by-case basis. Beneficiaries will be individually notified.

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<topics>

  1. The role of Competition law and Policy in Economic Development
  2. Market definition and abuse of dominant position
  3. Types of and criteria for "Cartel"
  4. Criteria for business combination examination
  5. Types of vertical restraints and its anti-competitive effect

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Mr. Park, Sang-Yong
Director, International Affairs Division II
Korea Fair Trade Commission
Tel:82-2-504-5944/5
Fax:82-2-507-3544
E-mail address:Gugje2@ftc.go.kr

Ms. Kim, Kyoung-Seon
Deputy Director, International Affairs Division II
Korea Fair Trade Commission
Tel, fax, E-mail address: the same as those of Mr. Park

* Mr. Park or Ms. Kim stands ready to respond to any questions or comments.

Please feel free to contact him for further information.