On May 29, Director of the BRICS Competition Centre Alexey Ivanov took part in the session themed “Competition Law and Enforcement Practice for a Borderless Business World”, held as part of the “Antitrust Law: To A New Level” conference, organized by legal news platform Pravo.ru. The session also featured a speech by Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia, Andrey Tsyganov.
The discussions centered on the need for competition regulation to keep pace with rapidly evolving market conditions. Experts noted an increase in disputes involving the transfer of shares in strategic enterprises and emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between state interests and market stability. The impact of digital marketplaces on market structures, enforcement challenges in the digital age, and legal practices across BRICS and EAEU countries were also among the key topics addressed.
Alexey Ivanov underscored the urgency of strengthening antimonopoly policies across BRICS and EAEU economies in cross-border markets, drawing particular attention to the threats posed by digital platforms and global oligopolies. He cited the agricultural sector as a pressing example, where a handful of traders control a substantial share of global grain trade.
© Pravo.ru
Ivanov proposed the creation of joint digital tools, including a system for monitoring economic concentration transactions, to help identify potential risks and bolster coordination among BRICS and EAEU competition authorities.
“Despite the absence of a unified international framework, the last 25–30 years have seen convergence. The diffusion of antitrust law across the world has been fairly uniform. This is a unique situation: despite political, economic, and cultural differences, legal professionals have learned to speak the same language,”
said Ivanov.
© Pravo.ru
Andrey Tsyganov emphasized that cooperation among BRICS competition authorities facilitates knowledge-sharing and improves regulatory effectiveness, particularly in tackling cases involving multinational corporations and assessing global transactions.
“One of our main priorities recently has been cross-border enforcement cooperation. When we witness major concentration deals, it becomes clear that consistency, enforceability, and alignment with global market interests are essential for all parties involved,”
he noted.
To enhance regulatory coordination, model documents are being developed, including the 2024 Principles and Standards for Digital Market Participants, aimed at preventing violations by tech companies.
With the recent expansion of BRICS, the Russian FAS is focusing on integrating new member states into existing cooperation frameworks, such as working groups and the Committee on Antimonopoly Policy. Tsyganov added that efforts are also underway to coordinate with other international organizations, contributing to the development of more effective solutions.
