Development Friendly Competition Policy? Implementing Competition Policy in the EPAs

Abstract: This thesis examines the connection between competition policy, international competition policy and economic development. There are at least two important movements in world trade today: the recognition of competition policy, both domestic and international, for economic growth and development, and the proliferation of bilateral trade agreements. Increasingly, new trade related issues are being brought into bilateral trade negotiations, competition policy being one such issue. There is little doubt that competition policy is important, particularly for developing countries, but under pressure from industrial countries, developing countries may lose focus of their particular development needs, ultimately losing influence over their own policy choices. This thesis finds that there is such a thing as development friendly competition policy. Although there are potential areas of conflict, the Economic Partnership Agreements could help facilitate the implementation of such competition policy in the developing countries, and by way of gradualism, flexibility and competition advocacy redirect growth from the informal to the formal economy.