Thailand: Introduced Trade Competition Act (B.E. 2560) including anti-competitive agreements regulation

On 22 May 2016, the Trade Competition Bill was introduced by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The Bill replaces the previous Trade Competition Act (B.E. 2542) and introduces exemptions for central, regional, or local administrations, state-owned enterprises, public organisations, farmer groups, cooperatives, and businesses regulated under other sectoral laws. In addition, the Act prohibits business operators from using their dominant market position to fix prices, limit production, obstruct competition, or engage in unfair trade practices. Furthermore, businesses are prohibited from entering into joint agreements that would restrict competition in a market.