CPICL Hosted Seminar on Competition Law of Unfair Trade Practices in Asia in the Digital Era

On 20 August 2025, CPICL, in collaboration with the Research Conversations seminar series at the TC Beirne School of Law, hosted a seminar titled Competition Law of Unfair Trade Practices in Asia in the Digital Era. The seminar was presented by Professor Yo Sop Choi from the Graduate School of International and Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

Professor Choi emphasised that competition policy is a cornerstone of democratic societies, with more than 130 countries worldwide – including most Asian nations – adopting and developing competition laws. These regimes often share core provisions relating to anti-competitive agreements, abuse of market dominance, and merger control, reflecting a growing international consensus on the importance of free competition. Yet, national contexts have also driven significant variation, particularly through rules on unfair trade practices (UTPs), which many Asian countries have introduced to address the specific demands of their societies.

The seminar explored both convergence and divergence in UTP regimes across Asia. While countries such as Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have developed similar provisions, many Southeast Asian nations have taken distinct approaches, giving rise to regulatory fragmentation.

This discussion resonated strongly with CPICL’s International and Comparative Competition Law and Policy Program, which examines the interplay between global competition norms and their local adaptations.