Regulating trade associations

As antitrust authorities around the world ramp up enforcement on behavioural infringements, trade associations have come under the spotlight. In Europe, the 2018 ECN+ Directive significantly increases the financial exposure of trade associations and members who infringe competition law, while other key jurisdictions (such as the UK, US and China) have also seen trade associations become a focus for antitrust enforcement. 

In this cross-jurisdictional piece, the Linklaters Antitrust & Foreign Investment team examines the treatment of trade associations by antitrust authorities around the world, and provides guidance on what trade associations and businesses can do to reduce risk.