Confrontation Over Competition Law

The presence or exclusion of the private sector in the Competition Commission, is the main theme of the discussion surrounding the bill being studied by the Congress of Guatemala.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Congressmen from the Unidad de la Esperanza (UNE) have requested the inclusion of private sector representation in the Competition Commission, a commission set up to investigate and penalize companies who use anti competitive practices and which seeks to prevent monopolies.

An article in Periodico.com.gt quotes Carlos Barreda, a UNE minister, who says, "The initiative sanctions monopolies and anti-competitive behavior, therefore the presence of the private sector would present a conflict of interest. You can not be judge and jury."

Meanwhile Andres Castillo president of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF), believes that not incorporating the private sector is a mistake, since those that should broach the subject are the ones who know the business sector well.

"It is illogical not to involve people who are steeped in how the market works. It is often people who have never owned businesses who request the changes."

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