Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: FTC, DOJ heads meet with Chinese antitrust agency officials, (Apr 13, 2016)

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer participated in high-level bilateral meetings with officials from China’s three anti-monopoly agencies, the FTC and Department of Justice announced today.

The meetings—bringing together Ramirez, Baer, Hu Zuchai (Vice Minister, National Development and Reform Commission), Tong Daochi (Assistant Minister, Ministry of Commerce), and Wang Jiangping (Vice Minister, State Administration for Industry and Commerce)—allowed participants to exchange information and views on antitrust developments and priorities. The participants also discussed the role of competition enforcement and advocacy in promoting innovation.

The meetings began this morning in Washington, D.C. They will continue tomorrow with separate meetings between U.S. antitrust enforcers and officials for each of the three Chinese agencies.

This is the third joint, high-level consultation between the agencies since the FTC and DOJ signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chinese antitrust agencies in July 2011. The MOU is designed to promote communication and cooperation between U.S. and Chinese antitrust enforcement agencies and provides for periodic high-level consultations.

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