PCC, HKCC ink partnership

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) are partnering for enhanced competition law enforcement.

In a statement yesterday, the antitrust body said PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan and HKCC chairman Samuel Chan led the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for bilateral cooperation on competition law enforcement.

Under the MOU, the parties agreed to open avenues for staff exchanges, research collaborations, capacity-building exercises, and other forms of technical cooperation.

As part of the MOU, the parties will notify each other of anti-competitive activities of mutual interest prior to or after law enforcement, as well as conduct joint activities to further improve competition law enforcement capacity.

“The PCC and HKCC are united in the goal to protect and advocate for a fair competition landscape in our respective jurisdictions, especially amid the pandemic. As more transactions turn borderless or go digital, international cooperation becomes a critical component in the enforcement of our respective competition laws,” Balisacan said.

In the past, the PCC and HKCC have worked together through the conduct of staff exchanges, competition enforcement workshops, and activities on the policy and advocacy front.

“This strong relationship has grown organically, and based on this solid foundation, both of our agencies recognize the considerable benefits in formalizing and further strengthening this partnership,” Chan said.

Both PCC and HKCC have been actively pursuing opportunities for international cooperation.