Global collaboration among competition regulators crucial
Gina Cass-Gottlieb
Keynote address at the ICC/IBA Pre-International Competition Network Forum
Gina Cass-Gottlieb, ‘Global collaboration among competition regulators crucial’ (Keynote address at the ICC/IBA Pre-International Competition Network Forum, 4 May 2022)
In a keynote address at the ICC/IBA Pre-International Competition Network Forum, ACCC Chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, highlighted the importance of global collaboration among competition regulators, with a focus on cooperation in merger cases.
Introduction
“I am very pleased to be able to attend this important event and the ICN Conference itself in person relatively early in my tenure as Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
It is so energising to be able to meet and engage with you all face to face as we discuss the complex and evolving challenges ahead of us. I am well aware of the importance of the ICN to its member agencies including the ACCC, which was an early member of this network. I see this event and the conference as valuable opportunities to secure and build on our long-standing relationships within the ICN.
My involvement with competition regulation began when I studied antitrust law, financial services and payment systems for a Masters of Law at UC Berkeley some thirty years ago. My work as a competition lawyer in the subsequent decades gave me experience looking at competition issues in many sectors, across a range of international jurisdictions.
Today I will speak about the importance of international co-operation between competition agencies and then turn to three areas of the ACCC’s work in which this cooperation is proving critical:
Digital platforms
Mergers, and finally
Our recently announced enforcement priorities, which include a focus on anti-competitive conduct in global supply chains.
I should note that Australia will have a Federal election on 21 May. In the lead up to the election, government authorities need to be careful not to appear to criticise or support the policies of one side over the other. While I’m able to discuss issues, I will be avoiding advocating for any changes to our laws until the outcome of the election is known.”
See also ACCC media release.