The Impact of China’s Antitrust Law and Other Competition Policies on U.S. Companies

The Impact of China’s Antitrust Law and Other Competition Policies on U.S. Companies

Susan Beth Farmer (Pennsylvania State University)

Abstract:     This article is based on the author’s testimony for part of the hearings on “The Impact of China’s Antitrust Law and Other Competition Policies On U.S. Companies,” held by the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy on July 13, 2010. It describes developments in the enforcement and application of the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law, interpretation and enforcement during the two years since the AML came into effect, with particular attention to merger review. It comments on the organization and staffing of the enforcement agencies and the publication of numerous procedures, guidelines and regulations, which suggests that capacity building is important and ongoing. Legal developments indicate consideration of international best practices and a trend towards the consumer welfare model of antitrust thought, mediated by domestic approaches to national policy and governance. Finally, it points out that the AML and regulations include certain non-economic considerations and other provisions, such as treatment of SOEs and administrative monopolies, that are specific to the national history and development of the Chinese market economy.