Competition Policy in Post-Covid-19 World

Alex Sundakov

Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law

Alex Sundakov, ‘Competition Policy in Post-Covid-19 World’ (2020) 28 AJCCL 230

‘In the heat of the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-trust authorities around the world have stepped back from full enforcement of competition rules and have allowed an unprecedented degree of co-operation between competitors. In Australia, this has been most visible in joint efforts by supermarket chains to restore supply lines in response to panic buying. However, regulators have been careful to point out that any such co-operation should be absolutely essential, should involve the minimum degree of anti-competitive conduct and that any forbearance is likely to be temporary. In its policy guidance, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has been careful to communicate the point that the pandemic does not fundamentally change the underlying competition policy. …‘