Federal Trade Commission
Doing Business Under AGOA – Consumer
Protection and Competition
~
Civil Society Organizations Charting a Course for
Sustainable U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment
Partnership
~
Charles Harwood
Deon Woods Bell
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
August 2015
Introduction to the FTC
 A US agency with the dual mission of protecting
consumers and promoting competition
 The FTC is dedicated to advancing consumer
interests while encouraging innovation and
competition
 We cooperate with international agencies and
organizations to protect consumers in the global
marketplace
www.ftc.gov
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
& TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
EDUCATION
& GUIDANCE
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
POLICY
& RESEARCH
Some Enforcement Priorities
 Ensure national advertisers back up claims,
especially health and safety claims
 Balanced approach to technology and mobile
markets to asses consumer needs and encourage
competition
 Protect children
 Stop financial frauds and other scams
 Prevent anticompetitive practices/combinations
 Safeguard consumer privacy choices
Business Guidance
www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center
Policy and Research
Technical Assistance/ International
Cooperation Goals
 Partner with foreign counterparts and
stakeholders to develop and strengthen
institutional frameworks to better protect
consumers, using best practices
 Inspire consumer trust in the marketplace and
contribute to robust, sustained economic
development and competitive market-oriented
economies
Technical Assistance/ International
Cooperation
 TA to more than 60 countries:
• 2014: ASEAN, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia,
India, Uganda, Malawi, Mexico, Kuwait (with
World Bank), the Philippines
• 2015: Egypt, South Africa, and Peru, Indonesia
Dominican Republic, Oman, Qatar, others
 Multi-stakeholder Approach
• Engagement with government officials,
international organizations, civil society, business
leaders, academics, lawyers, others
Technical Assistance/
International Cooperation
 E-commerce and mobile payments
 Privacy and data security
 Financial practices, including financial literacy
 Competition (antitrust)
 Mass-market fraud
 False and misleading advertising
 Legal framework and regulatory reform
 Enforcement practical skills
 With partners: product safety, intellectual property,
financial institutions, and more!
African Consumer Protection
Dialogue
 FTC initiative in partnership with African consumer
protection and competition authorities
 Encourage regional cooperation and sharing of best
practices among and with other stakeholders in Africa,
United States, and the rest of the world
 Conferences/Trainings: 2009 – Johannesburg, South
Africa; 2010 – Arusha, Tanzania; 2011 – Abuja,
Nigeria; 2012 – Rabat, Morocco; 2013 – Livingstone,
Zambia; 2014 – Lilongwe, Malawi; 2015 – Cairo, Egypt
African Consumer
Protection Dialogue
 Regional Liaisons
• EAST AFRICA - Kenyan Competition Authority
• WEST AFRICA - Nigerian Consumer Protection
•
•
Council
NORTH AFRICA - Egyptian Consumer Protection
Agency
SOUTHERN AFRICA - Zambian Competition and
Consumer Protection Commission
THANKS!
Charles Harwood, [email protected]
Deon Woods Bell, [email protected]