The OECD Global Forum on Competition 2012

Source: OECD

Paris¸ France

The 11th OECD Global Forum on Competition will focus on commodity price volatility and international co-operation in cartel investigations.

The OECD Global Forum on Competition (GFC) bring together high-level competition officials from around the world on a regular basis. Close to ninety Competition Authorities from Asia¸ Africa¸ Europe¸ Australasia and the Americas currently participate in the Forum.

The GFC provides an opportunity for policy dialogue between OECD countries and non-OECD economies. The discussion  benefits from the input of the Competition Committee whose work has already generated substantial results in many countries¸ such as the voluntary adoption of  ‘best practices’¸ substantial analytical convergence¸ the establishment of strong networks of enforcement authorities¸ and enhanced co-operation in international merger reviews¸ cartel investigations and other cases. The GFC provides a venue in which these important issues can be debated with competition authorities and other representatives of the developing world. At the same time¸ given its broad focus on development¸ the GFC promotes a wider dialogue that encompasses the linkages between competition policy and other cornerstones of economic development.

Like other OECD activities¸ the Forum is inter-governmental¸ but regional organisations like COMESA or WAEMU and other international organisations such as the World Bank¸ UNCTAD¸ and the WTO also participate. Through the Business and Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC)¸ the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) and Consumers International¸ representatives of the business community and consumers also have an input and are invited to selected discussions.