EU: Honeywell targeted by Arkema in antitrust suit

Honeywell International was targeted by an antitrust complaint from Arkema SA, which alleges the US company prevents fair competition for the only car-coolant chemical that currently meets new European Union standards on greenhouse-gas emissions.

Arkema filed the complaint with the EU’s antitrust authority seeking a “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory license to Honeywell’s patents” for 1234yf, a refrigerant used in car air-conditioning systems, according to a statement on Friday. Honeywell’s practices harm consumers, car makers and the environment “as the entire car industry is moving to worldwide deployment of 1234yf.”

Honeywell has already been the subject of a stalled EU probe into the refrigerant. Three years ago, the European Commission told Honeywell and Chemours, then owned by DuPont, that they might have unfairly limited supplies of the chemical. Arkema had filed a complaint in that investigation that it says it has now withdrawn.

Honeywell said the new complaint is “without merit” and appears to restate issues regulators decided not to pursue several years ago. The company “remains convinced that it acts in full compliance with EU competition rules.” It has invested nearly $1 billion to bring the coolant to market, it said in an emailed statement.

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