Competition policy

摘要

The 2008 constitution places more emphasis on state intervention in regulating competition and addressing monopolistic practices. Former President Rafael Correa (2007-17) strongly criticised some industries, which he accused of acting as monopolies or oligopolies. These included banana exporters, bankers, cement producers, media owners and mobile-telephone companies. Competition regulations in Ecuador include the anti-monopoly law of 2011, its ruling decree of 2012 and the Law on Companies of 1999. The anti-monopoly law prohibits financial and media companies from investing more than 6% of their assets in other industries. The Superintendency of Market Power Control (Superintendencia de Control del Poder de Mercado) serves as the competition regulator, but resource constraints limit its effectiveness.