Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Officials Meet with Officials Responsible for Chinese Anti-Monopoly Agencies

Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez participated in high level bi-lateral meetings with officials responsible for China’s three anti-monopoly agencies – National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Minister Hu Zucai, Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Assistant Minister Tong Daochi and State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) Vice Minister Wang Jiangping.

The meetings took place this morning in Washington, D.C., and allowed the participating agencies to exchange information and views on antitrust developments and priorities.  In addition, the agencies discussed the role of competition enforcement and advocacy in promoting innovation.  The meetings will continue this afternoon and tomorrow with separate meetings between U.S. antitrust enforcers and each of the three Chinese agencies.

These are the third joint, high-level meetings between the agencies since the Justice Department and the FTC signed an antitrust memorandum of understanding with the Chinese antitrust agencies on July 27, 2011.  The MOU is designed to promote communication and cooperation between U.S. and Chinese antitrust enforcement agencies and provides for periodic high-level consultations.