ABSTRACT
The US and the EU have well-developed and distinct competition regimes. Differences between the two regimes are such that the cost and nature of change are considerable. Despite considerable promise since the inception of the new transatlanticism, transatlantic cooperation in competition policy remains uneven and limited. Utilizing the concepts of positive and negative integration, it is found that the limits of cooperation are framed by escalating transaction costs. Disinterested leadership and adverse business environments expose weaknesses in the current multilateral framework. A framework resembling negative integration will reduce transaction costs and propel business firms to demand enhanced cooperation.
