HANOI RESOURCE CENTRE

Consumer sovereignty in the framework of social justice, economic equality and environmental balance, within and across borders

Events-2012

Addressing Unfair Trade Practices in ASEAN to Protect Small Businesses and Consumers

Jakarta, Indonesia
Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), in collaboration with the Indonesian Centre for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) organized the 2nd Policy Dialogue in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 19th, 2012 under the project titled “Study on Unfair Trade Practices in select ASEAN countries”. The project is being implemented in five ASEAN countries i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada).

The 2nd policy dialogue, following the successful results of the 1st policy dialogue organized in September 12th, 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), aimed to discuss relevant issues and further the advocacy agenda on the same in the ASEAN region. The policy dialogue comprised of a half-day public seminar, during which partners, advisors and the project implementation team of the project presented the project findings and recommendations on Indonesia as well as the whole ASEAN region with regard to the nature and prevalence of UTPs in each country, their impacts on business growth and consumer welfare, the legal and regulatory framework as well as institutions to deal with them, and a summary of different stakeholders’ perspective on UTPs, etc.

There were about 40 participants in the event including representatives of government agencies such as the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU), the Ministry of Trade, the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation (YLKI), representatives of law firms and press agencies, project partners, advisors and the project implementation unit.

Dissemination of Evidence on Unfair Trade Practices in ASEAN: Evidence Based Policy Making

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Wednesday, 12 September 2012

CUTS Hanoi Resource Centre, with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC – Canada), is implementing a two-year project entitled “Study on Unfair Trade Practices in select ASEAN countries”, in cooperation with research partners in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The overall objective of this project is to generate and promote substantive discussions/ dialogues in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on issues related to unfair trade practices (UTPs). This is expected to lead and contribute to the improvement of the relevant legal and institutional frameworks in ASEAN countries that seek to sustain a fair business environment therein and ensure equitable market outcomes in the long run.

This policy dialogue, designed as a forum for sharing the research findings and policy recommendations of the project with competition and consumer protection agencies in the ASEAN region, as well as other relevant stakeholder groups, for their feedbacks, is expected to contribute to the attainment of the specific objectives of the project.

Depending on the outcome(s) of this policy dialogue, a second event would be organized in Jakarta (Indonesia), tentatively in late November 2012, either to follow up on the results of this policy dialogue and discuss on a possible extension/deepening of the current project; or to bring the whole exercise to a cumulative end.

The first policy dialogue was organised during the 12th of September, 2012 at Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.