THE antitrust probe launched in May
2011 into the possible breaches of European competition law by major carriers
has been revived despite a slowdown in investigation, says the European
Commission chief Hubert de Broca.
The dozen carriers are under
investigation by the commission for suspected cartel and restrictive business
practice violations, with investigators focused on the steep rise in prices
that followed demand slowdown and capacity expansion in 2009. The prices were
announced to customers individually rather than collectively as under the
conference system.
The lack of response is unusual but
is not a sign of inactivity on the part of the investigators, said Mr de Broca,
according to London's Containerisation International.
It remains unclear what evidence, if
any, has been gathered to issue statements of objections and eventual charges,
that - if proven - would result in hefty fines.
EC guidelines on the removal of
container lines' bloc exemption from EU competition law will expire in
September 2013 with a review on whether extension is warranted given that seven
years would have passed since the 2008 ban was imposed.
The latest probe on automobile
carrier trade by competition authorities in Japan, Europe and North America
underlines the focus of attention the industry remain under, said Mr de Broca.
Source :HKSG.
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