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Amazon Looks To Settle EU Antitrust Probes: Report

By  |  November 9, 2021

Currently, Amazon faces two EU antitrust investigations which they wish to settle to avoid hefty fines, reported Reuters.

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    In November of last year, the European Commission charged Amazon with using its size, power, and data to push its own products and gain an unfair advantage over rival merchants that sell on its online platform.

    Vestager also opened an investigation into Amazon’s possible preferential treatment of its own retail offers and those of marketplace sellers that use its logistics and delivery services.

    Related: Amazon Faces New EU Antitrust Probe Over Marketplace Data Violations

    Amazon is engaged in preliminary discussions with the EU competition enforcer and has offered concessions to address their concerns, the people said.

    According to Reuters, the settlement talks can take months to wrap up, with no guarantee that both sides will reach an agreement.

    Amazon, however, may find a receptive ear in EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager compared to Alphabet unit Google, which tried, but failed, to settle with her.

    Vestager, who has taken a tough line with Apple and Facebook as well, has cited Amazon’s willingness in 2017 to offer concessions to settle an investigation into its distribution deals with e-book publishers in Europe, which she subsequently accepted.

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