Competition & Antitrust

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SINGAPORE: CCCS Announces Plans for General Business Collaboration Guidance Note to Replace its Guidance Note on Collaboration During COVID-19

In July 2020, to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore ("CCCS") issued a Guidance Note on Collaborations between Competitors in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic ("COVID-19 Guidance Note") to provide clarity to businesses on how CCCS would treat collaborations between competitors during these exceptional times, as well as examples of collaborations that would fall under the COVID-19 Guidance Note. The COVID-19 Guidance Note, however, is due to expire 31 July 2021.

On 23 July 2021, CCCS confirmed that the COVID-19 Guidance Note will no longer apply from 31 July 2021. Interestingly, however, CCCS announced its intention to consult on an upcoming draft General Business Collaboration Guidance Note to provide businesses with more clarity on common collaborations between competitors.

SINGAPORE: Treatment of Collaborations During COVID-19: CCCS Guidance

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in tremendous disruption to logistics and supply chains and many companies face challenges in respect of demand. To deal with the effects of the outbreak, collaborations may be necessary between competitors.

Against this backdrop, the Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore ("CCCS") has on 20 July 2020, issued a Guidance Note on Collaborations between Competitors in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic ("Guidance Note"), to provide clarity to businesses on how CCCS will view collaborations between competitors during this exceptional period.

This Update highlights a few salient points from the Guidance Note on the assessment framework CCCS will use to assess certain collaborations between competitors which are put in place from 1 February 2020 and end by 31 July 2021.