CFTC and JFSA Announce Comparability of Derivatives Trading Venues

The Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) section 5h(g) empowers CFTC to grant an exemption from the SEF registration requirement when it determines that a facility is subject to comparable, comprehensive supervision and regulation on a consolidated basis by SEC, a prudential regulator, or the appropriate governmental authorities in the home country of the facility. ETPs that have been granted an exemption from SEF registration under section 5h(g), as listed in the order, may be used by swap counterparties to comply with the trade execution requirement under the CEA section 2(h)(8) and may also be used to trade swaps that are not subject to the trade execution requirement.

Article 60-14 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (No. 25 of 1948) (FIEA) empowers JFSA to permit certain foreign derivatives platforms to qualify as Foreign ETP Operators. Under the Japanese regulatory framework, Foreign ETP Operators shall not be examined on the specific ways they operate as long as their business is operated at levels deemed virtually equal to those required in Japan, given that they are essentially under the supervision of overseas authorities. JFSA will facilitate the authorization process for CFTC-authorized derivatives platforms that seek to be Foreign ETP Operators on the premise that they are subject to the regulation and supervision of the CFTC.

Keywords: Americas, Asia Pacific, US, Japan, Banking, Securities, Swap Execution, Trading Venues, OTC Derivatives, JFSA, CFTC