Department Of Justice And Federal Trade Commission To Host Workshop On International Technical Assistance

One-Day Public Event Scheduled for February 6, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced that they will host a joint workshop entitled, “2008 International Technical Assistance Workshop: Charting the Future Course of International Technical Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.”

The workshop, which will be held on Feb. 6, 2008, will outline the agencies’ experience providing technical assistance to new antitrust and consumer protection agencies and to countries in the process of reforming their markets and adopting antitrust and consumer protection laws. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss ideas for improving the agencies’ technical assistance programs, maximizing their effectiveness, and charting future courses of such efforts.

Thomas O. Barnett, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division and FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras will deliver introductory remarks.

The workshop will consist of several interactive panel discussions covering topics including:

An overview of the antitrust technical assistance provided by the Antitrust Division and the FTC over the past two decades;

The expanding role of consumer protection in developing legal and economic policies through technical assistance;

The experience of other providers of technical assistance, including foreign agencies and multilateral organizations; Perspectives from private practitioners, academics and officials from foreign agencies on what is needed in the technical assistance area; and

Technical assistance for the 21st century, including recommendations to be implemented by the Antitrust Division and the FTC as they promote competition and consumer protection law and policy.

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Federal Trade Commission Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. The event is open to the public and there is no fee for attendance. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Admittance to the Federal Trade Commission Conference Center requires a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license.

Accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for such accommodations should be submitted via e-mail to cmcglothlin@ftc.gov or by calling Carrie McGlothlin at 202-326-3388. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodations needed and a way to contact you if we need more information. Please provide advance notice.

Any person may submit written or electronic comments, either before or after the workshop. Two complete copies of each written submission should be sent to the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. For further information about the workshop, including a detailed agenda and instructions for making written submissions, please visit: http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/workshops/techassist2008/index.htm or http://www.ftc.gov/oia/wkshp/index.shtm.