[Economic Observation] What does the annual "answer sheet" of anti-monopoly enforcement reveal?
Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the "Annual Report on China's Anti-monopoly Law Enforcement (2021)" (hereinafter referred to as the Report), handing over an annual "answer sheet" for my country's anti-monopoly law enforcement work.
The report shows that in 2021, 175 monopoly cases of various types will be investigated and dealt with, a year-on-year increase of 61.5%, and the amount of fines and confiscations will be 23.592 billion yuan.
Among them, there were 11 monopoly agreement cases, with a fine of 1.673 billion yuan; 11 cases of abuse of market dominance, with a fine of 21.847 billion yuan; 107 cases of public punishment for illegal implementation of concentration of operators, with a fine of 72.35 million yuan; abuse of administrative power to exclude and restrict 46 competition cases.
2021 is a year of strong anti-monopoly law enforcement, with continuous improvement of top-level design and more active law enforcement activities.
The State Administration for Market Regulation added the "State Anti-Monopoly Bureau" brand to enrich its regulatory power.
In terms of top-level design, last year, the State Administration for Market Regulation accelerated the revision of the Anti-Monopoly Law, improved supporting legislation, and formed a relatively systematic and complete legal and rule system with the Anti-Monopoly Law as the core and composed of multiple regulations and guidelines, so as to provide fair competition for market players. Provide clear and unambiguous guidance.
Promote the formulation of the "Opinions on Strengthening Anti-monopoly and Deepening the Implementation of Fair Competition Policies", and improve the fair competition policy framework and implementation mechanism compatible with the high-level socialist market economic system.
Fair competition is the core of a market economy.
Last year, the State Administration for Market Regulation continued to improve the fair competition system, further promote the implementation of fair competition policies, comprehensively enhance the effectiveness of anti-monopoly supervision and law enforcement, optimize the business environment while strengthening the supply of basic systems, and stimulate market innovation and development momentum while maintaining fair competition. , improve people's satisfaction while protecting consumer rights and social public interests, and promote the continuous improvement of a fair, open, transparent, efficient and orderly market competition environment.
For example, resolutely investigate and punish the "choose one" behavior that the society reflects strongly in accordance with the law.
Focus on key areas such as e-commerce and takeout, and promote major law enforcement activities in an orderly and stable manner, requiring companies involved in the case to make comprehensive rectifications, establish rules, and act as an example, and urge platform companies to consciously standardize their business behavior.
At present, the "choose one" behavior in the platform economy has basically stopped, and the market competition order has improved significantly.
At the same time, strictly review the concentration of operators involved in platform companies in accordance with the law, prohibit mergers and acquisitions by leading platform companies in the field of online game live broadcasting that harm competition; lift the widely criticized exclusive copyright in the field of online music, and promote positive interaction and coordinated development of large and medium-sized enterprises.
It is worth mentioning that last year, the State Administration for Market Regulation also highlighted serving the development of the real economy and strengthened anti-monopoly supervision and law enforcement.
Focus on strengthening anti-monopoly law enforcement in the fields of people's livelihood such as medicine, building materials, and public utilities, investigate and deal with major monopoly cases in the real economy such as the monopoly agreement case of Yangzijiang Pharmaceutical and Bull Group, and the abuse of market dominance by Simcere Pharmaceutical, and accurately release the anti-monopoly case in a fair and just manner. The policy signal of monopoly law enforcement and the promotion of stable growth of people's livelihood.
Anti-monopoly law enforcement also carries the special mission of correcting administrative monopoly behavior and promoting the implementation of a fair competition review system.
Last year, the State Administration for Market Regulation continued to regulate the abuse of administrative power to exclude and restrict competition.
Investigated and dealt with 46 cases of abusing administrative power to exclude and restrict competition, such as restricting transactions and hindering the free circulation of commodities, resolutely safeguarding the unified domestic market and promoting the smooth domestic circulation.
This year is the year to start again after improving the anti-monopoly system and mechanism and enriching the anti-monopoly supervision force.
The relevant person in charge of the State Administration for Market Regulation said that this year will focus on improving the level of anti-monopoly rule of law, focus on improving the legal system of fair competition, and promote the creation of a market-oriented and legalized international business environment; focus on boosting market expectations and confidence, and focus on deepening fair competition. Implement policies to promote high-quality development through fair competition; focus on stabilizing the macro economy, smooth economic cycles, and improve people's livelihood, and focus on strengthening anti-monopoly supervision and law enforcement in key areas; , and strive to enhance the ability and level of fair competition governance.