Cartel Enforcement Today: The Perils of the Economic Downturn

These are dangerous times for corporate executives. In times of economic downturn and financial dislocation, the temptation for corporate executives to embrace a short-term fix to raise prices and allocate markets is almost irresistible. An historical review of economic downturns provides powerful testimony that the major global cartels, ranging from lysine and citric acid to vitamins and graphite electrodes, had their origins at moments of economic stress.

Enhancing International Cartel Enforcement: Some Modest Suggestions

Today, we live in an enforcement environment of coordinated multi-jurisdictional raids, interrelated leniency programs, and truly draconian corporate and individual penalties. Donald C.Klawiter (Sheppard Mullin)

Panel 1 - The Global Regulatory Landscape in Antitrust

Antitrust has received renewed attention from politicians worldwide recently. Discussions on market and monopoly power, both local and globally, have emerged at the center of political debates. For example, one of the first significant measures of the new federal administration in the U.S. was to pass an Executive Order to promote competition in the American Economy in 2021. Although the U.S. continues to play a significant role in shaping competition policy worldwide unequivocally, the European Union has recently emerged as a powerhouse in matters of competition law enforcement and competition policy. The rise of the Chinese antitrust laws could play an essential role in the future of antitrust discussions that one should consider. This panel will touch base with discussions on recent trends in global antitrust. Panelists would focus on how the American antitrust policy has shaped international debates and how other jurisdictions\u27 stances have influenced internal U.S. antitrust policies if they did so in the first place. The panel will also discuss specific policy questions, such as comparing the recent developments of the U.S.’ leniency and cartel enforcement programs with other nations. Finally, panelists will discuss if the U.S. still holds a prominent position as a lighthouse guiding infant antitrust agencies searching for guidance in competition policy matters

Panel 1 - The Global Regulatory Landscape in Antitrust

Antitrust has received renewed attention from politicians worldwide recently. Discussions on market and monopoly power, both local and globally, have emerged at the center of political debates. For example, one of the first significant measures of the new federal administration in the U.S. was to pass an Executive Order to promote competition in the American Economy in 2021. Although the U.S. continues to play a significant role in shaping competition policy worldwide unequivocally, the European Union has recently emerged as a powerhouse in matters of competition law enforcement and competition policy. The rise of the Chinese antitrust laws could play an essential role in the future of antitrust discussions that one should consider. This panel will touch base with discussions on recent trends in global antitrust. Panelists would focus on how the American antitrust policy has shaped international debates and how other jurisdictions\u27 stances have influenced internal U.S. antitrust policies if they did so in the first place. The panel will also discuss specific policy questions, such as comparing the recent developments of the U.S.’ leniency and cartel enforcement programs with other nations. Finally, panelists will discuss if the U.S. still holds a prominent position as a lighthouse guiding infant antitrust agencies searching for guidance in competition policy matters