Global: International business groups endorse ICN framework

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), the Association of in-house competition lawyers (ICLA), and the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) have announced approval of the International Competition Network (ICN) Framework for Competition Agency Procedures (CAP).

ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said, “Robust procedural guarantees are an essential part of any antitrust enforcement regime.  For many years ICC has promoted strengthening of due process principles. The CAP initiative is a great step in the right direction.”

The CAP highlights and reinforces important due process principles in competition law investigations such as transparency and predictability, confidentiality, conflict of interest, representation by counsel, appropriate notice, privilege, independent review, and reasonable time period for investigations. Competition agencies, businesses, and consumers around the globe, all stand to gain from reinforcement of these core principles.

The CAP’s endorsement of non-discrimination in antitrust enforcement is key in today’s global marketplace and addresses a pertinent issue at the interface of competition law and trade law.