Inaugural Washington Forum on Antitrust and Digital Markets sets agenda for future competition policy debate

The inaugural Washington Forum on Antitrust and Digital Markets took place in Washington, D.C. on March 23rd, convening policymakers, regulators, legal experts and industry leaders for high-level discussions on the future of competition policy in an increasingly digital and geopolitically complex environment. As part of the global Competition Compass Series, the forum established a new platform for transatlantic dialogue on antitrust enforcement and the regulation of digital markets.

Bringing together senior representatives from government, competition authorities, academia and industry, the forum examined how competition frameworks are evolving in response to rapid technological change, shifting market dynamics, and the growing strategic significance of digital infrastructure and data-driven markets.

Discussions reflected how generative AI, the continued evolution of platform ecosystems, and diverging global policy approaches are reshaping the competition enforcement landscape.

A Defining Moment for Competition Policy

Speakers underlined that competition policy is undergoing a period of significant transition, as authorities reassess established approaches to market definition, dominance, and theories of competitive harm in digital and innovation-driven sectors.

Particular attention was given to the challenges posed by scale, data concentration, and ecosystem effects, which continue to complicate traditional analytical frameworks for assessing market power and competitive dynamics.

A consistent theme throughout the forum was the need for greater clarity and coherence in enforcement approaches, alongside strengthened international cooperation to ensure effective oversight of increasingly global digital markets.

Key Themes for 2026

Competition and Market Power in the Age of Generative AI

Discussions focused on the implications of generative AI for market structure and competition, including access to data, compute resources, and foundational infrastructure, as well as the potential for concentration within emerging AI value chains.

Evolving Approaches to Enforcement and Merger Control

Speakers highlighted the shift towards more forward-looking assessments of competitive harm in merger review, particularly in digital markets where innovation, data access, and ecosystem integration are central considerations.

Antitrust, Innovation and Industrial Policy

The forum examined the increasingly close relationship between competition enforcement and broader economic and industrial policy objectives, and the challenge of safeguarding competition while supporting investment in strategic technologies.

Global Cooperation in a Fragmented Landscape

With regulatory divergence becoming more pronounced across jurisdictions, discussions underscored both the importance and the complexity of maintaining effective international cooperation in competition enforcement.

The Expanding Scope of Competition Law in Digital Markets

Speakers reflected on the growing intersection between competition law and adjacent regulatory frameworks, including data governance, consumer protection, and digital regulation.

A Distinguished Line-Up of Speakers

The forum brought together a high-level speaker faculty from leading competition authorities, government, academia and legal practice, reflecting the breadth of perspectives shaping contemporary competition policy.

Confirmed speakers included:

• Mark R. Meador, Commissioner, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
• Omeed Assefi, Acting Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
• Dina Kallay, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
• Carlota Reyners Fontana, Director for Markets and Cases II, DG Comp, European Commission
• Thomas York, Chief of the Antitrust Division, Texas Attorney General’s Office
• Bruno Polonio Renzetti, Chief of Staff, Office of Commissioner Carlos Jaques V. Gomes, CADE (Brazil)
• Jana Seidl, Senior Advisor for Competition and International Affairs to FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, Federal Trade Commission
• Daniel Graulich, Chief of Staff and Attorney Advisor to Commissioner Mark R. Meador, Federal Trade Commission
• Eric Posner, Counsel, MoloLamken LLP
• Adam Cella, Chief Counsel for the Constitution, Antitrust, and Regulatory Law, U.S. House Judiciary Committee
• Elizabeth Odette, Assistant Attorney General, Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
• Ashley Walters, Assistant Attorney General, District of Columbia Attorney General’s Office
• Daniel Guarnera, Director, FTC Bureau of Competition

Moderators were:

• William E. Kovacic, Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy, George Washington University
• Khushita Vasant, Chief Global Correspondent, MLex
• Lewis Crofts, Editor-at-Large, MLex

Their contributions reflected the breadth of expertise and institutional perspectives shaping current debates on the future direction of antitrust enforcement, from doctrinal developments to the practical realities of cross-border enforcement in digital markets.

Launching a New Platform for Transatlantic Dialogue

As digital markets continue to evolve at pace, the inaugural Washington Forum on Antitrust and Digital Markets provided a timely platform for structured exchange on the future of competition policy. From the implications of artificial intelligence to the increasing convergence of antitrust, industrial strategy and geopolitics, the discussions underscored the need for agile, forward-looking and internationally coordinated approaches to enforcement.

By bringing together leading voices from across jurisdictions and disciplines, the forum laid the foundations for an ongoing series within the Competition Compass Series, focused on promoting fair, open and competitive digital markets in an increasingly complex global environment.

For more information and to access the full Policy Pulse and Key Insights report, please visit the event website.