Geneva, Switzerland — The 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection opened with a powerful plenary session celebrating 45 years of the UN Set of Principles on Competition and 40 years of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection. Amid global instability, leaders reaffirmed the critical role of fair markets in fostering inclusive and sustainable development.
Key highlights included renewed calls—led by Burkina Faso and supported by CUTS International—for the formal recognition of December 5th as World Competition Day, to promote awareness of fair competition globally.
Speakers raised alarms over market concentration in agrochemicals and tech, with just a handful of companies dominating global markets, threatening innovation and fair access—especially in developing economies.
Concerns also focused on AI and the digital divide, as experts warned of the risks of exclusion for low-income countries and women. Calls for equitable, accountable AI governance echoed throughout the session.
The conference also explored evolving competition law frameworks, with jurisdictions like the U.S. and South Africa integrating labour and sustainability considerations into antitrust assessments.
To foster cross-border cooperation, panellists proposed shifting from policy convergence to “semantic interoperability” a shared understanding across jurisdictions while respecting sovereignty.
The session underscored the need for agile, inclusive enforcementthrough regulatory sandboxes and flexible legal tools, enabling faster adaptation to rapid technological change.
Statements from member states like Mauritius, The Gambia, Iran, and Guinea-Bissau highlighted national reforms and called for greater technical support and international collaboration.
The report was compiled by Mritunjai Kapila.