The role and tasks of the AMCU in the process of rebuilding Ukraine were discussed at meetings with the FTC, the US Department of Justice and the World Bank

The role of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the AMCU) in the post-war reconstruction process, deepening cooperation between Ukrainian and US competition agencies, including expanded opportunities for AMCU staff to learn from colleagues from the US, were discussed on June 23 during a meeting with representatives of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The meeting was attended by the Chair of the AMCU Olha Pishchanska and State Commissioner of the AMCU Serhii Shershun. DoJ was represented by Lynda Marshall Chief of the International Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and Harrop Caldwell, Assistant Chief of International Section, U.S. Department of Justice. The representative of the FTC, Elizabeth Kraus, Deputy Director for International Antitrust at Federal Trade Commission also joined the meeting.

As a result of the meeting, it was agreed to more actively involve the US Department of Justice in cooperation within the FTC/USAID project, which has been successfully implemented in Ukraine for many years. In particular, the possibility of direct internship of employees of the Ukrainian competition agency in DoJ is considered.

“Our American colleagues are ready to share with the AMCU staff their experience in effectively finding bid rigging. We will also work with the US Department of Justice to develop new tools to detect such conspiracies. We dedicated part of the meeting to the plans for post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Our colleagues from the United States believe that the AMCU will play one of the key roles in this process” - said Olha Pishchanska, Chair of the AMCU.

In his turn, Serhii Shershun underlined the importance of improving the Ukrainian public procurement system so that it could ensure the speed and efficiency of bidding in a competitive manner.

Also, today, the delegation of the AMCU met with representatives of the World Bank. Mona Haddad, Global Director for Trade, Investment and Competitiveness, Martha Martinez Licetti, Practice Manager - Markets, Competition and Technology, and Graciela Miralles, Senior Economist, joined the conversation.

The parties discussed the impact of the war on the markets of Ukraine, the activities of the AMCU during martial law, the state of reforming Ukrainian antitrust law.

During the meeting, agreements on the provision of analytical information by the World Bank to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine were reached, including information on the impact of the war on trade with neighboring countries, as well as on potential barriers to trade.

We would like to remind that the delegation of the AMCU is participating in the OECD Competition Week, which is taking place in Paris. The event also includes a number of working meetings with foreign colleagues and representatives of international organizations.