Release: 5469-08

For Release: March 12, 2008

CFTC Hosts International Regulators to Discuss Futures Industry Issues

Boca Raton, Florida – As part of an annual event, more than 50 futures industry regulators from around the world will assemble today at an International Regulators Meeting hosted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The theme for this year’s meeting is “Modernizing Financial Regulation.”

“Today, the futures industry is virtually borderless. To effectively oversee these dynamic markets, regulators around the world must work together,” said CFTC Acting Chairman Walt Lukken. “Today’s meeting is a critical part of an ongoing international dialogue as we all work to encourage growth in the markets while ensuring market and customer protections are in place. We’re proud to host our colleagues and thank them for their participation.”

Panel discussions will address issues from a regulatory perspective that include concerns associated with cross-border clearing, the differences between a core principles-based regulatory regime and a rules-based regime, and the development of international financial centers. Participants will also discuss whether OTC instruments that are centrally collateralized or cleared should be subject to the same or comparable regulatory regimes as economically equivalent exchange-traded instruments.

Participants at this year’s meeting include regulators from Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States. The meeting is closed to the public.

Media Contacts
Ianthe Zabel
202-418-5080

R. David Gary
202-418-5085

Last Updated: March 11, 2008