Regulation of Anti-Competitive Agreements under the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law

中國反壟斷法對於壟斷協議之規範

This Article analyses the regulation of anti-competitive agreementsunder the Anti-Monopoly Law. This study considers whether thelegislation is sufficient for enhancing consumer welfare in China. Itfocuses on the limitations and significant problems of the relevant rulesthat have not yet been analysed by other academic writers. The majorproblem that merits careful consideration is that the regulation of anticompetitiveagreements under Chinese Anti-monopoly Law lacks clarity,which would presumably prevent this legislation from helping enhanceconsumer welfare in China. To put it differently, the mere enactment ofthe rules that govern agreements is best regarded as a milestone in thepath of transition towards effective regulation of anti-competitiveagreements. The analysis in this study indicates that the Chineseauthorities concerned have not yet made sufficient effort in analysing thecase law in mature competition regimes. What the Chinese governmentshould do immediately is to carry out research on the rulings in asystematic manner. 本文分析中國反壟斷法對於水平與垂直壟斷協議的規範，並進一步探討該法是否足以達成其「維護消費者利益」的立法目的。本研究將分析重點，鎖定在相關條款的立法瑕疵以及學界與實務界尚未深入探討的重大問題，例如疊床架屋的主管機關及該法對於垂直協議未妥適規範等議題。本研究發現，相關條款最主要的問題在於其缺乏明確性，而此一重大瑕疵將造成法律適用上的困難，極可能使反壟斷法欲維護消費者權益的目的淪為空談。換句話說，制定法律並非維持經濟秩序的萬靈丹；2007年反壟斷法立法工作的完成，僅係中國經濟法制演進過程中的一個里程碑。欲進一步鼓勵競爭、改善經濟秩序，尚須透過研議與修法，增進反壟斷法的明確性，使經營者不致無所適從。在日後檢討相關規範的過程中，中國有關機構的比較法研究，不應侷限於法律條文，對於歐洲與美國競爭法實務中的重要判決與行政處分，亦應進行系統性的研究，以窺先進競爭法制的全貌。