CADE Participates in 25th Annual ICN Conference

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) participated in the 25th International Competition Network (ICN) Annual Conference, held in Manila, Philippines, from May 6 to May 8, 2026. The event serves as a primary global forum for competition authorities to align strategies and discuss trends in the defense of competitive markets.

The conference focused on the challenges of maintaining market competition amid evolving economic landscapes. Key areas of discussion included regulatory innovation, enforcement strategies, and new market dynamics, which are central to how antitrust authorities manage the intersection of technology and commerce.

Representing Brazil in these technical discussions were Diogo Thomson, the Interim President of CADE, Commissioner Camila Alves, and Bruno Renzetti, who serves as the Head of Office of Commissioner Carlos Jacques’s office. These officials participated in working groups and delivered presentations on current antitrust issues.

The ICN aims to promote global convergence in competition matters by providing an independent and specialized forum. This convergence is intended to help jurisdictions coordinate their approach to market challenges and promote a consistent framework for competitive markets worldwide.

CADE’s Strategic Role in Global Antitrust

CADE maintains a significant leadership position within the ICN, which informs its contributions to the development of international recommendations and best practices in the antitrust field.

The agency is a member of the ICN Steering Group and currently co-chairs the Unilateral Conduct Working Group. This role allows Brazil to actively influence the standards used by competition authorities globally when addressing unilateral market behavior.

Beyond the formal agenda, the delegation engaged in bilateral meetings with representatives from other nations. These discussions were designed to exchange experiences and strengthen international cooperation between regulatory bodies.

The focus on regulatory innovation at the 2026 conference highlights the ongoing effort by competition authorities to adapt their enforcement tools to match the speed of modern market shifts. By collaborating through the ICN, authorities seek to address emerging challenges that transcend national borders, ensuring that competition defense remains effective across different economic contexts.