FTC Workshop on International Consumer Protection Concerns to Be Held June 8 & 9

The Federal Trade Commission today announced that its spring workshop examining U.S. perspectives on consumer protection in the global electronic marketplace will be held June 8-9, 1999 at the FTC's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

On December 14, the FTC announced the spring workshop that will explore various issues that online consumers confront as they buy goods or services from foreign businesses. These issues, the agency said, concern questions of what laws apply to direct, international business-to-consumer transactions, where disputes are heard, and which governments have authority to protect consumers.

A December 16 Federal Register notice sets forth a number of questions intended as examples relevant to the Commission's examination and asks that comments be submitted in response to those questions. Pursuant to a new Federal Register notice the Commission has extended the comment period to March 26 and will accept comments electronically.

Academic papers and written comments should be submitted to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, or via the Internet to EMarketplace@ftc.gov (no period.). Comments should be captioned "U.S. Perspectives on Consumer Protection in the Global Electronic Marketplace -- Comment, P994312."

The Commission vote to issue the Federal Register notice was 4-0.

Copies of the December 14 press release, December 16 Federal Register notice and the Federal Register notice announcing dates of the workshop and extension of deadline are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.

(FTC File No. 994312)