US: Justice Department sets goal for Global Antitrust Framework

The US Justice Department (DOJ) and its international counterparts are close to unveiling a new framework of procedures for antitrust investigation and enforcement, in a move to encourage better corporate compliance through stronger procedural fairness, DOJ antitrust chief Makan Delrahim said June 1.

“Our shared vision is a multilateral framework that is open to all competition authorities, reflects fundamental due process recognized by almost every competition authority, enhances and extends the work of international organizations, and incorporates meaningful mechanisms to secure compliance,” Delrahim said at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

With more than 140 competition agencies across the world, each separately reviewing pending merger transactions and investigating anticompetitive practices, it is “critical” that there are shared principles as to how investigations are conducted, Delrahim said.

The global framework, titled the Multilateral Framework on Procedures in Competition Law Investigation and Enforcement, will be finalized next week in Paris.

Full Content: Law 360

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