The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued two proposed rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) at an open meeting held yesterday, January 20, 2011. The first proposed rule would permit agricultural swaps and commodity options and subject them to the same regulatory regime that the Dodd-Frank Act establishes for other types of swaps. The second proposed rule requires swap dealers and major swap participants to include an “Orderly Liquidation Termination” provision in their swap trading relationship documentation.

The proposed rules have not yet been published in the Federal Register. This discussion is based on statements made at the CFTC’s open meeting as well as Fact Sheets and Q&As made available by the CFTC. Once published in the Federal Register, both of the proposed rules will be subject to a 60-day public comment period.

Proposed Rule Regarding Agricultural Swaps and Commodity Options

The Dodd-Frank Act explicitly prohibits agricultural swaps absent a CFTC rule, regulation or order granted under Section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).1 The Dodd-Frank Act also explicitly includes options of any kind, other than options on a futures contract, within the swap definition.2 The proposed rule makes agricultural swaps and commodity options, which are currently regulated separately and distinctly from other types of swaps, subject to the same CEA provisions and CFTC rules as any other swap. The CFTC’s decision to treat agricultural swaps and commodity options the same as other types of swaps is due, in large part, to public comments received by the CFTC in response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) issued last September.3 According to the CFTC, nearly all of the comments supported treating agricultural swaps like other types of swaps.

The proposed rule, promulgated under Section 4(c) of the CEA, repeals Part 35 of the CFTC’s regulations, which pertains to agricultural swaps, and replaces it with a provision stating that agricultural swaps are subject to the same provisions of the CEA (and any rule, regulation, or order thereunder) that are applicable to all other swaps. The existing eligible swap participant safe harbor for agricultural swap transactions would thus be replaced with the eligible contract participant requirements applicable to all swaps that are not traded on a designated contract market under the Dodd-Frank Act. The proposed rule also revises Parts 32 and 33 of the CFTC’s regulations to permit the transaction of commodity options (other than options on a future) and to make clear that Part 33 only applies to options on a future.