WASHINGTON—Challenges in the digital marketplace was a key discussion topic as members of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD) recently met here, the Federal Trade Commission reported.
Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina M. Khan, Justice Department Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, and Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission gathered for the third meeting of the group.
According to the FTC, the discussions centered on critical themes the agencies are facing, including the reasons mergers between digital players may lead to competition concerns. The agencies also shared policy reflections in the area of abuse of dominance and monopolization in the digital sector and presented recent policy initiatives in this field.
Participants also exchanged views on the evolving business strategies of big tech companies as well as on their implications for enforcement, the FTC said.
Statements Issued
The participants issued statements following the meeting that included:
- “The joint dialogue continues to provide an invaluable forum for the U.S. agencies to engage with the European Commission on challenges in digital markets,” said Khan. “At this moment of unique risk and opportunity, it is especially critical that we deepen our cooperation with key enforcement partners.”
- Agencies around the world are adjusting their competition enforcement and regulatory regimes to account for new market realities and in particular the challenges of the digital economy,” said Kanter. “Sharing best practices with the European Commission through the TCPD has been extraordinarily valuable to the U.S. agencies.”
- “Today’s meeting has proven once again how fruitful it is to keep engaging in a close cooperation between the European Commission and the US competition authorities,” said Vestager. “Exchanging our experiences and ideas on how best to anticipate and address the fast-moving trends in tech markets is vital for achieving the shared goal of a fair, inclusive and pro-competitive digital transformation, to the benefit of consumers and businesses in both the EU and U.S.”