International Competition Law Harmonisation and the WTO: Past, Present and Future

In a global world where businesses become international, National Competition Authorities face difficulties in regulating transnational anti-competitive activities. The harmonisation of competition law has evolved into a topic of significant contemporary importance. The paper will address the benefits of international competition law harmonisation: is international competition law desirable? If yes, is it achievable, as to whether the notion of “one size fits all” could be the best solution for competition law in an international context? The paper will also discuss the WTO: its past, present and future to tackle international anti-competitive challenges. The question will be raised as to what are the strengths and limitations of the WTO in harmonising and enforcing international competition law. It will evaluate whether sizeable potential benefits of international competition law are likely to exceed any implementation costs.