Mr. Rıza Tuna Turagay:

* New legislation and regulations are needed in e-trade, where consumers and sellers do not come together.

* Turkish Competition Authority is guiding the players in the sector by means of its decisions and modern legislation while contributing to consumer welfare at the same time.

* It is necessary to protect the competitive environment in markets for enabling firms to compete with their rivals in international trade.

 President of the Competition Authority Prof. Dr. Ömer TORLAK:

* We are following global developments and we are trying to reflect our experience to our decisions and practices in accordance with the facts of our country.

* Search for a solution against exploitative conduct of internet giants continues worldwide. We will see whether the decisions we have taken are pioneers.  

* Whatever the result is, competition law and policy adapts to transforming markets and more importantly foresees and shapes the transformation.

* Today while consolidation increases in markets, firms are earning more and there are doubts whether they direct their gains to investments so that those return to the public.

Traditional symposiums on recent developments in competition law this year discussed “Competition and Regulation in E-Trade” in detail.

Deputy minister of Trade Mr. Rıza Tuna Turagay, President of the Competition Authority Prof. Dr. Ömer Torlak, Deputy President of Istanbul University Prof. Dr. Recep Güloğlu, Competition Board Members, Competition Authority personnel as well as participants from Turkey and abroad attended the symposium hosted by Istanbul University.  

Following Deputy President of Istanbul University Prof. Dr. Recep Güloğlu’s welcoming speech, Deputy Minister of Trade Mr. Rıza Tuna Turagay made his speech. Turagay pointed out that the number of consumers who use internet for shopping is constantly increasing and the tendency to carry out business directly offers providers the opportunity to use new business models.

Emphasizing that in the last five years, e-trade volume in our country increased 32% on Turkish liras basis and in 2017 it was 42.2 billion TL, Turagay stated that there are issues to be noted beside the favorable developments.

Turagay highlighted that new legislation and regulations are needed in e-trade, where consumers and sellers do not come together; at this point, the Competition Authority makes important contributions to the sound development of e-trade in our country and consumer benefits with its decisions and modern practices.

Turagay also stated that it is necessary to protect the competitive environment in markets so that citizens can take the share they deserve from the welfare provided by technology and firms can become stronger and compete with their international rivals in international trade.

President of the Competition Authority Prof. Dr. Ömer Torlak stated that it is necessary to understand e-trade’s role both in economic and daily life and to develop strategies accordingly.

Noting that e-trade has become widespread especially within the last decade both in our country and throughout the world; firms, consumers and institutions has gone through turbulent times at global and local scale, Torlak emphasized that opportunities and risks exist at the same time at such times and the first reaction should not be act timidly and focus only on risks. “I think that e-trade and business models such as platforms and marketplaces it brought will create economic efficiencies and dynamisms, which are important for our economy and consumers, and we should urge the gains in this area. Of course, while we are insisting on those gains, we should not forget that we are on the side of consumer welfare and efficient markets.” Torlak said.

We are following global developments closely.

Torlak also stated that when we look at what is happening throughout the world it is difficult to talk about a consensus or a single solution. As the Competition Authority, they are following global developments and they are trying to reflect their experience to the decisions and practices in accordance with the facts of the country.

Torlak also explained “ in our Yemeksepeti and Booking decisions, we evaluated in detail what will be the consequences of most favored customer clause with respect to competition.  We showed our approach to limitation of internet sales with Jotun and Bosch decisions and to vertical price fixing in e-trade with Sony decision. As a result of our investigation about the platform Sahibinden, we took an important decision related to excessive pricing by dominant undertakings in multilateral markets. Search for a solution against exploitative conduct of internet giants continues worldwide. We will see whether the decisions is a pioneer.

Whatever the result is, competition law and policy adapts to transforming markets and more importantly foresees and shapes the transformation.”

Following the opening speeches, the panel started. The panel was held in two sessions. Morning session was moderated by the Vice President of Competition Authority Abdülgani Güngördü.  Niamh Dunne (London School of Economics), Antonia Capobianco (Acting Head of OECD Competition Division), Recep Gündüz (Head of the Department of External Relations, Training and Competition Advocacy, Competition Authority) and Nevzat Aydın (Yemek Sepeti CEO) were the speakers.   

Istanbul University Faculty Member Ali Paslı moderated the afternoon session.  The speakers were Serkan Sevim (Co-chairman of TÜSİAD Digital Transformation Roundtable), Fahrettin Oylum (Chairman of MÜSİAD Information Sector Board), Fevzi Güngör (Vice Chairman of TOBB E-Trade Sector Assembly), Adem Başar (Assistant General Director, Ministry of Trade).

The symposium ended with the expression of wishes and presentation of plaques.