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CCC Delivers Training Programme to the Guyana Competition And Consumer Affairs Commission

CCC DELIVERS TRAINING PROGRAMME TO THE GUYANA COMPETITION AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 3RD AND 5TH-7TH NOVEMBER 2014

The CCC delivered training to the technical staff of the Guyana Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) in response to a request for technical assistance from the CCAC.

The training sought to transfer knowledge and skills in the areas of competition law and practice, and consumer protection. The training programme was well received by the technical officers.
The training programme delivered updates on the prevailing economic concepts and theories of harm behind the various types abuse of dominance infringements and restricted agreements, and mergers and acquisitions. The CCAC technical officers were introduced to:

(1)    The effects-based approach to handling unilateral conduct cases along with examples on how to conduct the Equally Efficient Competitor test in cases of bundled rebates, margin squeezes and predatory pricing. The important process of how to define the relevant market and various tests (HHI and concentration ratios), and elasticity and the SSNIP that are utilized to assist were reviewed.

(2)    Practical methods for analyzing market definition such as price correlation tests, regression analysis, critical loss tests, and the Elzinga-Hogarty (product flow) test.
 
(3)    Economic concepts such as divergent ratios and the Upward Pricing Pressure (UPP) test used in merger reviews.

(4)    Structure and preparation of the investigative report and the more detailed economic report. An outline of the duties of the Economic Expert and preparation of the Economic Report were discussed.

(5)    Presentation of economic evidence to the judiciary and data quality issues.

(6)    An update on the obligations of CARICOM Member States under the competition provisions within the trade agreements the region has signed, or is currently negotiating. These included the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA and the on-going CARICOM-Canada Bilateral Cooperation Agreement negotiations.

(7)    Consumer protection in CARICOM, the Five-year Regional Strategy for Consumer Protection in CARICOM, and the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection (UNGCP)