Die vorliegende Diplomarbeit behandelt das Problem der Regelung von Wettbewerbsfragen im Völkerrecht im allgemeinen und in der WTO im besonderen.
In Kapitel 1 werden die wirtschaftlichen Hintergründe und unterschiedlichen Motive für staatliche wettbewerbsrechtliche Regelungen dargestellt. Kapitel 2 stellt verschiedene Tatbestände, die im Wettbewerbsrecht als regelungsbedürftig angesehen werden, vor (z.B. Kartelle, Missbrauch der marktbeherrschenden Stellung, etc.). Kapitel 3 beschreibt nationale Regelungsansätze des Wettbewerbsrechtes einschließlich bilateraler Kooperationsabkommen, die zur Durchsetzung nationaler Regelungen erforderlich sind. Besonderes Augenmerk wird auch auf die unterschiedlichen Rechtskulturen gelegt, die die nationalen Regelungen beeinflussen. Kapitel 4 stellt die bisherigen Regelungsansätze auf internationaler Ebene dar, wobei die auf regionaler Ebene verbindliches Recht darstellen, die auf universeller Ebene allerdings im Bereich des soft laws bleiben.
Kapitel 5 und 6 stellen die Kernkapitel der Arbeit dar und befassen sich mit Wettbewerbsrecht im Rahmen der WTO. In Kapitel 5 werden bestehende wettbewernsrelevante Regelungen in der WTO dargestellt. Zunächst wird beschrieben, welche staatlichen Maßnahmen, die von der WTO Rechtsordnung erfasst sind, den Wettbewerb beeinflussen. In einem weiteren Schritt wird analysiert, welche WTO Regelungen Staaten verpflichten könnten, privates wettbewerbswidriges Handeln zu regulieren. Da die Regelungen der WTO grundsätzlich Verpflichtungen für Staaten enthalten, wettbewerbsrelevantes Verhalten aber von Unternehmen gesetzt werden, ist es notwendig, einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Verhalten von Privaten und den staatlichen Verpflichtungen aus dem WTO Recht darzustellen. In Kapitel 6 wird schließlich die Diskussionen in der WTO Working Group on Trade and Competition, und die verschiedenen möglichen Ansätze, wettbewerbsrechtliche Probleme in einem multilateralen Abkommen im Rahmen der WTO zu regeln beschrieben.
In den abschließenden Bemerkungen wird die Wahrscheinlichkeit, in naher Zukunft eine Regelung im Rahmen der WTO zustande zu bringen als gering bewertet, jedoch angeregt, die bereits bestehenden Möglichkeiten im Rahmen der WTO Rechtsordnung auszuschöpfen um insbesondere die diskriminierende Anwendung nationaler Wettbewerbsregelungen zu verhindern.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Competition Policy
2.1. Economic Background
2.2. Objectives of Competition Law
3. Elements of Competition Law
3.1. Cartelization
3.2. Vertical Restraints
3.3. Abuse of Dominant Position
3.4. International Mergers
3.5. Parallel Imports
4. National Competition Law
4.1. Competition Culture
4.2. National Regulation
4.3. International Cooperation
5. International Competition Law
5.1. Regional Agreements
5.2. Multilateral Regulations
5.2.1. The Havana Charter
5.2.2. The UNCTAD Principles on RBPs
5.2.3. OECD Recommendations and Guidelines
6. Current Competition-Related Regulations in the WTO
6.1. Governmental Measures
6.1.1. Tariffs
6.1.2. Quantitative Restrictions
6.1.3. Tariff Like Measures
6.1.4. Subsidies
6.2. The GATT
6.2.1. Art. I GATT, the MFN
6.2.2. Art. II GATT, Market Access
6.2.3. Art. III GATT, Non-Discrimination and National Treatment
6.2.4. Art. XI GATT, Quantitative Restrictions
6.2.5. Art. XXIII:1 GATT, Non-Violation Nullification and Impairment
6.2.6. Case Study: The Kodak-Fuji Case
6.3. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
6.4. The TRIPS
6.5. Other Competition-Related Regulations in the WTO
7. Future Perspective of an International Competition Law Agreement
7.1. Competition and Trade
7.2. Developing Countries and Competition Law
7.3. Approaches on the Issue of International Competition Law
7.3.1. A Multilateral Agreement on Competition Law
7.3.1.1. A Harmonization Agreement
7.3.1.2. The “TRIPS Approach”
7.3.2. The “WTO Approach”
7.3.3. The “National Law Approach”
8. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This thesis examines the feasibility and potential structure of an international competition law agreement within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The primary research question addresses whether the WTO provides an appropriate forum for addressing private anti-competitive practices that distort international trade, and how existing WTO regulations can be leveraged or reformed to this end.
- The economic and legal foundations of competition law and policy.
- National vs. international perspectives on anti-competitive conduct.
- Analysis of existing competition-related provisions within the WTO legal system (GATT, GATS, TRIPS).
- Evaluation of the "Kodak-Fuji" case as a practical study on market foreclosure.
- Comparative analysis of potential approaches: harmonization, the "TRIPS approach," the "WTO approach," and the "national law approach."
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Cartelization
There are two kids of cartel agreements, import cartels and export cartels. Import cartels are agreements between domestic competitors aiming to coordinate the importation of certain products. These agreements are “hard core cartels” and concern either price, quantity or consumer allocation. Import cartels have the effect that all importers become price takers, as there is only one price, for which the products can be imported. Quantity restrictions and agreements on consumer allocation lessen competition and raise prices in the domestic market. Hence they harm domestic consumers. Because the domestic consumers have to bear a considerable amount of the costs of import cartels, they are widely prosecuted by domestic competition authorities. This is different in the case of agreements that do not harm domestic competition, but foreclose the market or provide other competitive advantages and hence strengthen the domestic industry without direct consumer welfare losses. Such agreements are acceptable internally, but cause frictions from an international perspective.
Export cartels are agreements concerning price, quantity or consumer allocation of products that are exported into foreign markets. Like import cartels, export cartels are “hard core cartels” and are considered to be unlawful by their nature in almost all competition law systems. In contrast to import cartels, foreign consumers bear most of the costs of the agreement, hence domestic competition authorities are less anxious about prosecuting export cartels. Naturally, the authorities favour their own constituents over foreign ones in a way that they seek to promote domestic consumer welfare, even at the expense of foreigners. It is very common among many competition law systems to exempt anti-competitive conduct that does not take place in, or has no direct impact on the domestic market. By exempting export cartels from competition law, competition authorities aim to strengthen the exporter’s competitiveness on the international market. This of course causes many frictions and disputes among trading parties.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the transition from governmental trade barriers to private restrictive business practices as a challenge for the WTO.
2. Competition Policy: Explores the economic background and the diverse objectives of competition law, including social welfare and efficiency.
3. Elements of Competition Law: Analyzes specific anti-competitive practices like cartelization, vertical restraints, and abuse of dominant position from an international perspective.
4. National Competition Law: Examines different national competition cultures and the limitations of territorial jurisdiction vs. the "effects doctrine."
5. International Competition Law: Reviews regional agreements and existing multilateral guidelines from organizations like UNCTAD and the OECD.
6. Current Competition-Related Regulations in the WTO: Analyzes how existing WTO agreements like the GATT and GATS touch upon competition issues and the role of the DSB.
7. Future Perspective of an International Competition Law Agreement: Proposes and evaluates various approaches for a future multilateral competition framework.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the challenges of reaching a consensus and suggests utilizing existing WTO tools as a pragmatic path forward.
Keywords
Competition Policy, WTO, International Competition Law, Trade Liberalization, GATT, Cartelization, Vertical Restraints, Abuse of Dominant Position, Market Access, TRIPS, GATS, Effects Doctrine, Economic Efficiency, Consumer Welfare, Dispute Settlement Body
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work explores the necessity and potential mechanisms for integrating international competition law into the existing legal framework of the World Trade Organization.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the interplay between trade and competition policy, the limitations of current national competition laws, and the potential for a multilateral framework within the WTO.
What is the main objective of the thesis?
The goal is to determine if and how the WTO can effectively address private anti-competitive conduct that impedes international market access.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The thesis utilizes legal and policy analysis, relying on existing trade law, WTO panel reports, and comparative studies of national competition regimes.
What does the main part of the paper cover?
It provides an in-depth analysis of anti-competitive practices, an examination of current WTO regulations, and an evaluation of four distinct approaches for future multilateral agreements.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Competition Policy, WTO, Trade Liberalization, Cartelization, Vertical Restraints, Market Access, and Consumer Welfare.
What role does the Kodak-Fuji case play in the study?
The Kodak-Fuji case is used as a case study to illustrate the practical challenges of using WTO law to challenge private market foreclosure and the limitations of current dispute resolution mechanisms.
Why are export cartels particularly problematic in this context?
Export cartels are highlighted because they are often exempted by national competition authorities to protect domestic industries, leading to global inefficiencies and international trade tensions.
- Quote paper
- Mag. Arnulf Gressel (Author), 2006, Competition policy in the World Trade Organization, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76293
