Competition Bureau Signs Cooperation Arrangement With Chilean Competition Agency

OTTAWA, December 17, 2001 — Today, Canada's Competition Bureau and Chile's competition agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the application of their competition laws. An official signing ceremony took place today in Santiago, Chile.

The MOU formalizes a cooperation arrangement built on commitments under the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement. It sets out a framework for notification, co-ordination and co-operation on enforcement activities, exchange of information and avoidance of conflict. It is also part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the Competition Bureau has the tools to effectively deal with increasingly globalized markets. Anticompetitive activities, which may affect more than one country, demonstrate the need for more cooperation among antitrust agencies in order to ensure compliance and effective enforcement of competition laws.

The Canada-Chile MOU will enhance the culture of cooperation between competition officials in both countries. It is the second cooperation arrangement that the Competition Bureau has entered into with other competition agencies. The first inter-agency cooperation agreement was signed last year between authorities of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Canada-Chile MOU contains similar provisions to existing state-to-state cooperation agreements Canada signed with the United States in 1995, the European Communities in 1999 and Mexico in November 2001. The Canada-Chile Memorandum of Understanding entered into force upon signing.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency which ensures that all Canadians enjoy the benefits of a competitive economy. 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 general public enquiries, please contact:
Competition Bureau's Information Center
1-800-348-5358

For media enquiries, please contact:
Tim Weil
Senior Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
819-953-9271 or 613-296-2189 (cell.)