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UN General Assembly could adopt December 5th as World Competition Day
The UN General Assembly will likely adopt a resolution in September 2026. This resolution will formally declare December 5th as World Competition Day. The Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy agreed to advance this proposal. This recognition stems from the UNGA’s adoption of the UN Set in 1980.
AP
Earlier this month, the 23rd UNCTAD IGE agreed that a resolution recognising World Competition Day should be advanced for consideration by the UNGA in September 2026.
Terming it a milestone, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International and Co-chairman of the International Network Of Civil Society Organisations on Competition (INCSOC), said, “We have been spearheading a campaign since 2010 to advocate for formal recognition of December 5th as World Competition Day. Nearly 65 countries have celebrated the Day in their own domains, thus raising awareness on competition law issues, resulting in a healthier market place”.
Mehta credited the recent leadership by the Government of Kenya within the UN system and the sustained efforts of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCC) and its CEO, Dr. Willard Mwemba, for the progress in the UN system.
“CUTS congratulates the Kenyan Government and Dr. Mwemba on achieving this milestone, and extends its solidarity for the final adoption at the 2026 UNGA,” he said, calling for continued global collective effort.
December 5th, 1980, marks the date when the UNGA adopted the ‘Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices’ (commonly known as the UN Set), a landmark in the evolution of competition law and policy across the world. Although not legally binding, the UN Set remains the only multilateral instrument on competition policy.
Official recognition of World Competition Day is expected to further better economic democracy within countries and international cooperation on competition issues.
Mehta appealed to all governments to support the adoption of the resolution at the UNGA in September, 2026.
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World Competition DayUN General Assemblycompetition lawDecember 5UNCTAD IGECUTS InternationalCOMESA Competition and Consumer CommissionPradeep S. Mehtainternational cooperationeconomic democracy
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News on
World Competition DayUN General Assemblycompetition lawDecember 5UNCTAD IGECUTS InternationalCOMESA Competition and Consumer CommissionPradeep S. Mehtainternational cooperationeconomic democracy
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