The OECD/KPC workshop on Digital Markets for ASEAN Competition Authorities was held from 14-17 June 2021 via Zoom in co-operation with PCC (Philippines Competition Commission).

The workshop started with welcome remarks by Arsenio Balisacan (Chairman of PCC), Ruben Maximiano (OECD) and Jungwon Song (Director General, OECD/KPC Competition Programme). It was followed by presentations from Ruben Maximiano (OECD), James Yoon (Senior Assistant Director, Policy & Markets Division, CCCS) and Morag Bond (ACCC). The topics and discussions covered an overview on the Competition Issues in Digital Markets, practices from the region (The Philippines and Singapore) and Experience with Digital Markets Units and Task Forces.

With regard to an overview on the Competition Issues in Digital Markets, Ruben Maximiano (OECD) stressed the importance of digital markets in ASEAN. He also underlined the main characteristics of digital markets from a competition perspective. These are, inter alia, network effects, the importance of data, intellectual property rights and in some cases the absence of prices. Competition authorities could face challenges in digital markets with anti-competitive behaviour (collusion, abuse of dominance, vertical restraints and anti-competitive mergers). Thus, cooperation is of great importance.

The second day continued with speeches by Caroline Laise (US DOJ) on Merger control experiences – the Sabre-Farelogix merger in the US, by Faye Fullalove and Ricardo Zimbron (both UK CMA) on Merger control experiences – cases in the UK and by Cat Batchelor (UK CMA) on Experience with Digital Markets Units and Task Forces CMA.

Caroline Laise (US DOJ) gave an overview on the Sabre-Farelogix merger in the US and explained the respective proceedings. This included the investigations, the cooperation with the UK CMA and the litigation process. Faye Fullalove and Ricardo Zimbron (both UK CMA) presented the experience with recent merger control filings in the UK and case studies. They also provided insights in terms of investigatory techniques and gave an outlook on the UK merger control regime. In addition, Cat Batchelor (UK CMA) presented an overview of the Digital Markets Unit and shared experiences.

On the third and last day, speeches were delivered by Pedro Caro de Sousa (OECD), Peter Alexiadis (EETT and Kings College London) and David Abkiewicz (ACCC). The presentation and discussions included remedies, Data Portability and Interoperability, Regulation, Competition and Digital Issues, and Platforms and Media.

The presentation by David Abkiewicz (ACCC) on Interoperability, Regulation, Competition and Digital Issues, and Platforms and Media focused on the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry. In particular, Digital platforms and media businesses, news, and journalism were analysed. The presentation also discussed the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code that came into effect in Australia in March 2021.

Closing words by Arsenio Balisacan (Chairman of the Philippines Competition Commission (PCC)), Ruben Maximiano (OECD) and Jungwon Song (Director General, OECD/KPC Competition Programme) marked the end of the OECD/KPC workshop on Digital Markets for ASEAN Competition Authorities.