RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/WGTCP/W/3
19June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2527)
Original: Spanish Working Group ontheInteraction
between Trade andCompetition Policy
COMMUNICATION FROM PERU
Thefollowing communication hasbeenreceived from thePermanent Mission ofPeruwith
therequest thatitbecirculated toMembers.
_______________
Trade isclosely related tocompetition policy, asthepurpose ofthelatteristoguarantee freedom
ofeconomic activity andequality ofconditions inthemarket-place, tocontrol theconcentration of
economic power, andtopromote consumer welfare andeconomic efficiency.
Hence, thework programme should dealwithtopics thatwillhelptoprovide abetter
understanding ofthese links andmake competition policy more effective, soastoensure thattrade
contributes meaningfully toeconomic growth anddevelopment. Thework programme should also
takeaccount oftheexisting imbalances among Members asregards thedevelopment ofaculture of
competition.
Inthiscontext, theWorking Group could consider thefollowing items:
I. ACHIEVING ABETTER CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OFTHE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND COMPETITION POLICY
- Impact ofcompetition policy ontheperformance oftrade andnational
economies.
- Importance ofcompetition policy forregulating structural changes inthe
domestic market asaconsequence ofprivatization andliberalization oftrade
andforeign investment policies.
- Relationship andbalance between intellectual property rights andcompetition
policy.
II. STOCKTAKING OFCURRENT LEGISLATION RELATING TOCOMPETITION
POLICIES
- Make acompilation ofcurrent national legislation andstandards ofWTO
Members relating tocompetition policy, withspecial emphasis on:scope of
laws, field ofapplication, prohibited practices (vertical andhorizontal),
enforcement bodies, andsanctions, among other aspects.
./.WT/WGTCP/W/3
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III. IMPROVING LEGISLATION AND APPLICATION OFSTANDARDS RELATING
TOCOMPETITION
- Analytical work aimed atdefining concepts tohelpcountries indrawing up
competition standards, suchas:relevant market, dominant position, parallel
restrictive practices, evidence andothers;
- Exchange ofexperience intheapplication ofcompetition legislation inorder
toidentify existing difficulties.
IV. STUDY OFMECHANISMS FORCOOPERATION AMONG GOVERNMENTS TO
PROMOTE COMPETITION POLICY STANDARDS