2020 Latin American and Caribbean Competition Forum

‌ 28-29 September 2020 Virtual zoom meeting

The 18th meeting of the Latin American Competition Forum took place virtually on 28-29 September 2020 in view of the COVID-19 situation. It was hosted by the OECD and the IDB.

PROGRAMME AND DOCUMENTS:

» Agenda • Orden del día

» Summary record

Watch OECD Angel Gurría's speech

Watch IDB Luis Moreno's speech

View all videos here

Session 1. Digital Evidence Gathering in Cartel Investigations

The advent of digitalisation has radically changed the way governments operate in a number of areas, including the detection of crime and illicit conduct and the enforcement of the law. Competition law enforcement is no exception and digital tools can be used for detection, collection of evidence and to make the enforcement of competition law more effective. Whilst companies create, store and use digital information more and more in their daily activities, competition agencies around the world use digital tools more and more in their daily enforcement activities.

This session will focus on the challenges faced by competition authorities in collecting evidence with digital instruments in cartel investigations as well as on the more practical considerations on evidence gathering in the digital era. It will also explore the challenges faced with the use and adoption of specific tools and in the reorganisation of human resources, such as by hiring specialists, creating dedicated internal unit, setting up of collaboration with external experts (e.g. computer and data scientists) or delivering dedicated digital staff training. Finally, this roundtable will identify the best practices that competition authorities can adopt when dealing with collection and protection of the evidence, the availability of searchable data, the procedure to guarantee confidential information, coordination within teams and allocation of resources.

Background documentation

Issues Note by the Secretariat • English | Español

Call for contributions • English | Español

Executive Summary with key findings • English | Español

Summary of the Discussion • English | Español

Speaker

Dirk Van Erps Bio
Adviser to the Deputy Director General for Antitrust & Cartels, European Commission

Contributions from participants

Brazil: English | Español

Costa Rica (COPROCOM and SUTEL): English | Español

Colombia: English | Español

Ecuador: English | Español

Mexico (COFECE): English | Español

Peru: English | Español

Portugal: English | Español

Spain: English | Español

United States: English | Español

UNCTAD: English | Español

Suggested bibliography and related links

OECD Competition Trends 2020, OECD Publication, 2020
OECD 2019 Recommendation concerning Effective Action against Hard Core Cartels, 2019
Cartel Screening in the Digital Era, OECD Workshop, 2018
Investigative Powers in Practice: Unannounced Inspections in the Digital Age, OECD Global Forum on Competition, 2018
Leniency programmes: Challenges and Co-ordination, OECD Best Practice Roundtables, 2018
Ex-officio Cartel Investigation and the Use of Screens to Detect Cartels, OECD Best Practice Roundtables, 2014
Enhanced enforcement co-operation, OECD Best Practice Roundtables, 2014
Ex-officio cartel investigations and the use of screens to detect cartels, OECD Best Practice Roundtables, 2013
Improving international co-operation in cartel investigations, OECD Best Practice Roundtables, 2012
Competition and procurement: Key findings, OECD Publication, 2011
Hard Core Cartels: Third Report on the Implementation of the 1998 Council Recommendation, 2005
Formal Exchange of Information between Competition Authorities in Hard Core Cartel Investigations, 2005
Review of the 1998 OECD Recommendation concerning Effective Action against Hard Core Cartels, 1998
The OECD International Cartel Database
Best Practice Competition Roundtables
OECD Competition

Session 2. Peer Review of Ecuador's Competition Law and Policy

The mechanisms of peer review vary, but it is founded upon the willingness of a country to submit its laws and policies to substantive questioning by other peers. The process provides valuable insights into the country under study, getting to the heart of ways in which each country deals with competition and regulatory issues, from the soundness of its competition laws to the structure and effectiveness of its competition institutions. In 2020, Ecuador's competition law and policy will be subject to such a review. The final report, including recommendations to strengthen Ecuador's competition framework was launched on 31 March 2021. See the full report and highlights of the Peer review: here.

Previous Peer Reviews in Latin American countries