Global developments in antitrust display two chief characteristics. On the one hand, national legislation in this area has proliferated all over the world since the breakdown of the major socialist systems. Competition statutes are to be found in more than 80 countries and more than half of them took effect during the past decade. On the other hand, the broad discussion on future harmonization of national antitrust laws as well as on the pros and cons of an international antitrust code or agency has stimulated international co-operation and convergence at various levels. Both strands require profound legal analysis in order to further a deeper understanding of the diverse national competition statutes as well as to pave the way towards global standards for the protection of competition against restrictions. Such standards are viewed as an adequate response to the challenges posed by the globality of markets.