This book provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made and the challenges still to be overcome in order to unlock and support the potential of the island economies.


Through in-depth analyses, case studies, and concrete examples, the authors examine central issues such as regulated prices, hydrocarbons, and abuse of dominance, while exploring strategic sectors such as telecommunications, tourism, and energy.


The reflections and contributions gathered in this book highlight the specific challenges faced by island economies and offer avenues to strengthen regional cooperation. The shared experiences of the competition authorities of French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and other Pacific territories enrich this overview, paving the way for concrete solutions to tackle the high cost of living and promote sustainable economic development.



TABLE OF CONTENTS



OVERVIEW


A Word from the President
Moetai Brotherson


Foreword
Oliver Guersent


Foreword
William E. Kovacic


Introduction
Benoît Cœuré


Polynesian Competition Law: Protecting a Reef Barrier
Johanne Peyre


List of contributors


PART I. THE GENESIS AND FIRST STEPS OF A SHARED AMBITION


In the Beginning There Was Determination
Jean-Christophe Boissou


“My primary objective was to protect Polynesian consumers”
Teva Rohfritsch


“It was an unprecedented experience for all those involved”
Édouard Fritch


“The dominant position of certain large groups, whether local or from
the mainland, requires an economic governance based on rigor and balance”
Yvonnick Raffin


“Competition has paid off: telecommunications and air transport are prime examples”
Pascal Devillers


“The APC’s actions are also favourable for public authorities, since greater transparency encourages
the management of public funds”
Jean-Luc Lemercier


PART II. A DECADE OF DECISIONS AND OPINIONS FROM THE POLYNESIAN COMPETITION AUTHORITY –
A REVIEW


“Informal contacts are numerous and help to clarify texts and case law”
Sophie Bresny


Competition and import and distribution mechanisms
Antoine Callot


Price Control Mechanisms in Polynesia
Frédéric Paillusson


Transportation of Hydrocarbons: The Action of the Polynesian Competition Authority
Arnaud Busseuil and Heiva Sage


Funeral Services: The First Agreement Decision by the Polynesian Competition Authority Sets the Tone
Nathalie Jalabert-Doury and Emma Moisson


The Effectiveness of the Polynesian Competition Authority: The Example of the Telecommunications Sector
Patrick Hubert and Quitterie de La Poype


The Acquisition of Bolloré Logistics by CMA CGM: Impact of the Decision
Jérôme Philippe


Regulating Merger Transactions in French Polynesia: Lessons from the Brasserie de Tahiti Case
Arthur Helfer, Igor Simic and Marie Minetto


The Oversight of Commercial Arrangements in French Polynesia: A Case Study of Carrefour Moorea
Matthieu Pujuguet


“We’ve come so far, and expectations are high”
Makalio Folituu


Quiet on Set! Competition in Progress


PART III. CONTRIBUTION TO THE REGULATION OF KEY ECONOMIC SECTORS


The Opening of the Polynesian Telecommunications Sector to Competition
Antoine Callot, Johanne Peyre


Competition Law and the Challenges of Insular Economies


Transport: Analysis of Infrastructures, Barriers and Regulations in Island Markets
Henri Piffaut


Effective Economic Regulation Independence from the Companies in the Sector and from Political Power
Vincent Jaunet


The Challenges of Competition Law in the Energy Sector
Elisabeth Moreau


Competition and Tourism: Assessment of a Decade of Decision
Nathalie Jalabert-Doury and Sarah Vidal


Not Every Cloud Brings a Storm: When the Winds of Competition Blow Across the Polynesian Tourism Sector
Yannick Lecornu and Hironui Johnston


PART IV. THE PROPER USE OF COOPERATION TO BREAK STRUCTURAL ISOLATION


The French and Polynesian Authorities Will Continue to Unite their Efforts to Promote the Vitality of the Metropolitan
and Polynesian Economies
Stanislas Martin


Building Competition in the Pacific: Seven Years of Cooperation Between the Polynesian and New Caledonian Authorities
Stéphane Retterer and Chloé Racine


PINCCER: A New Era of Collaboration and Market Competitiveness in the South Pacific
Joel Abraham and Vinitesh Kumar


The Role and Achievements of the OECD Competition Committee in Promoting Good Practices and International Cooperation
Frederic Jenny


PART V. ISSUES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE OF COMPETITION IN FRENCH POLYNESIA


Fighting the High Cost of Living in French Polynesia: The ISLE Initiative
Jérôme Philippe


Increasing Competition to Moderate the Cost of Living in French Polynesia: The ISLE Initiative
Benoît Durand and Sean Ennis


An Overview of Competition Law and Policy Challenges in the Pacific Islands: The Case of French Polynesia
By Johanne Peyre, William E. Kovacic and Alejandro Ibarra


The Prohibition of Exclusive Import Agreements in French Polynesia: A Plea for the Return of a Missing Law
Walid Chaiehoudj


Integrating Sustainable Development into Polynesian Competition Law: Between Uncertainty and Opportunity
Hervé Raimana Lallemant-Moe


Balancing Competition and Sustainability in Island Economies is Not Simply a “Greening” Exercise of Existing Policies
Léopold Temoana Biardeau


“Greater focus on anti-competitive practices”
Warren Dexter


“I am a strong advocate of competition and an equally strong defender of the Polynesian Competition Authority”
Moetai Brotherson


Postface
Gina Cass-Gottlieb