Canada and the U.S. Sign Cooperation Agreement on Competition Law Enforcement

OTTAWA, October 5, 2004 - Today, Canada's Commissioner of Competition, Sheridan Scott, announced that Canada and the United States have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on competition law enforcement. The "positive comity" agreement was signed by Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Kergin, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Chairman of the US Federal Trade Commission, Deborah Platt Majoras.

Positive comity agreements allow one country to request another to investigate and, if warranted, remedy anti-competitive activities that are causing harm to the requesting country's economy. A request can only be made where the anti-competitive conduct causing harm violates the requested country's laws. In addition, the requested country has the sole discretion on whether to address the matter under its laws.

The agreement supplements the 1995 agreement between Canada and the United States which set out a framework for notification, coordination and cooperation on enforcement activities, exchange of information, avoidance of conflict and positive comity. The new agreement describes more specifically the circumstances and procedures for making positive comity requests.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit from competitive prices, product choice and quality service. It oversees the application of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Eric Glaude
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
(819) 953-9760

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
(819) 997-4282
1-800-348-5358