It seems KWM are not the only ones looking to expand their horizons in China!
In September, the ACCC announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Administrator for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) in China. The aim of the MOU is to promote co-operation and coordination, particularly in the areas of law enforcement, information sharing and staff training between the ACCC and the SAIC.
ACCC Chairman Rod Sims commented on the MOU stating that ‘…the ACCC sees this agreement as one which will build the framework for cooperation in active investigations in the future.’ He also stated, more generally, that ‘[t]he ACCC is increasing its engagement with the Asia-Pacific region in order to better respond to cross border conduct affecting Australian markets and consumers.’
Rod Sims has made several other comments recently about the ACCC’s desire to increase their presence and engagement in Asia. For instance, at his speech at the Law Council of Australia Competition & Consumer Law Workshop on 25 August 2012, he suggested that the globalisation of commerce meant that competition agencies like the ACCC need to work more closely together. In particular he noted that ‘more of our [ACCC’s] focus will go to the Asian region’ as time goes on.
