Anti-Trust Laws — Competitor Meetings — Anti-Competitive Discussion
Our World
We Compete Fairly
In this section, we'll cover:
Our Commitment
We believe in free and open competition. We gain our competitive advantages through the quality of our products, rather than through unethical or illegal business practices.
Why It’s Important
Every country where we operate has laws that govern relationships with competitors, suppliers, distributors and customers. While the legal requirements vary, fair competition laws (also called “anti-trust laws” in the U.S.) generally share the same objective – to ensure that markets operate efficiently by providing competitive prices, customer choice and innovation.
How We Do the Right Thing
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Never Signal
Never talk with or signal our competitors about any aspect of our pricing, sales volumes, customers or territories.
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Meetings with Competitors
Do not attend a meeting with a competitor where the subject of price or other sensitive information is likely to be discussed.
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Don't Coordinate
Do not agree with a competitor to coordinate bidding to a customer.
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Ask Questions
Consult with the Global Ethics and Compliance Team if you have any questions or concerns about violations of anti-competition laws.
What It Looks Like
Industry and trade association meetings serve legitimate and worthwhile purposes. However, these meetings bring together competitors who might discuss matters of mutual concern and potentially cross the line. Even joking about inappropriate topics, such as marketing or pricing strategies, could be misinterpreted and misreported.
If the conversation turns to any kind of anti-competitive discussion, you should refuse to discuss the matter, leave the conversation immediately and report what happened to the Global Ethics and Compliance Team.
In the next section, we'll cover:
Corporate Citizenship — Dignity and Equality — Labor Laws