The ACCC works with other competition and consumer protection agencies across the world to help meet our objective of making markets work for everyone.
- Aims of our international activities
- Cooperation and collaboration
- Competition and consumer protection in ASEAN
- Useful documents
- International forums and groups
- Treaties and agreements
- More information
Aims of our international activities
Effective enforcement of Australia's competition, consumer protection and product safety laws in a global economy requires cooperation with similar agencies across the world.
We work closely with our global counterparts on international cartel, merger, competition enforcement, consumer protection and product safety matters that affect Australian consumers.
We also work with regulators in other jurisdictions to enhance our approach to economic regulation in Australia.
Cooperation and collaboration
The ACCC benefits from cooperating with international competition and consumer protection agencies. We also contribute extensively to the work of the key international organisations and networks to address existing and emerging competition and consumer protection challenges, and to promote ACCC priorities. These international organisations include the:
- International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN)
- International Competition Network (ICN)
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
This collaboration provides the ACCC with valuable information and insight about regulatory practices and emerging issues overseas.
Competition and consumer protection in ASEAN
A key strategic priority for the ACCC is developing stronger and closer cooperative relationships in Asia.
Through the Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP), the ACCC delivers assistance to ASEAN Member States to effectively introduce and implement national competition laws and policies.
For more information about CLIP's activities, see: Competition Law Implementation Program (CLIP).
The ACCC also cooperates with ASEAN Member States on technical cooperation for consumer protection issues.
Useful documents
The ACCC's immunity and cooperation policy for cartel conduct sets out the ACCC's approach to applications for immunity from proceedings initiated or authorised by the ACCC or the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) in relation to cartel conduct, and how cooperation provided to the ACCC by cartel participants will be recognised.
See: ACCC immunity and cooperation policy for cartel conduct (2019)
To assist the Cartel Working Group in its efforts to promote access to information about ICN Members' anti-cartel enforcement regimes, the ACCC has completed an Anti-Cartel Enforcement Template designed to highlight important features of members' anti-cartel systems.
See: ICN anti-cartel enforcement template (2015)
The ICN Framework on Competition Agency Procedures (CAP) is a non-binding set of principles intended to codify minimum standards for procedural fairness in participating agencies' competition investigations. Members of the CAP have to publish a completed template that outlines how competition enforcement in the jurisdiction adheres to the CAP's principles.
See: ICN framework on competition agency procedures template (2019)
International forums and groups
The ACCC participates in a number of international forums and groups, which allows us to develop and promote effective competition, and to advocate for strong regulatory and consumer protection regimes around the globe.
For more information, see: International forums & groups
Treaties and agreements
The ACCC is party to a number of cooperation agreements with international competition and consumer agencies and governments, including free trade agreements (FTAs), treaties and memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
For more information, see: Treaties & agreements