A group of EU shippers has reportedly sent a letter to US officials urging them to block the proposed partnership between the world’s two largest container shipping lines.
According to reports, the European Shippers Council sent a letter to the US Federal Maritime Commission last week claiming that the partnership between Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co will lead to negative effects on global rates. “Accepting that operators can ‘blank sailing’ can clearly be seen as market manipulation to restore freight rates if needed (by playing on the supply side),” the letter wrote.
But reports say despite the concerns, the letter is unlikely to cause the US agency to block the deal. The companies do not have plans to coordinate prices.
Still, officials are concerned over a certain clause in the partnership agreement that would reportedly allow the two companies to hike surcharges that possibly coordinate prices as a consequence.
Full content: JOC.com
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Germany’s Competition Watchdog Urges Tighter Controls on Oil Prices
Feb 19, 2025 by
CPI
Equifax Must Face Suit Over Alleged Market Monopolization
Feb 19, 2025 by
CPI
Public Interest Groups Push for Rehearing on FCC Net Neutrality Case
Feb 18, 2025 by
CPI
Australian Regulator Backs Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways Alliance
Feb 18, 2025 by
CPI
EU Scales Back AI Regulations to Compete with US in Global Tech Race
Feb 18, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – International Criminal Enforcement
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
The Antitrust Division’s Recent Work to Combat International Cartels
Jan 23, 2025 by
Emma Burnham & Benjamin Christenson
Information Sharing: The New Frontier of U.S. Antitrust Enforcement
Jan 23, 2025 by
Brian P. Quinn, Casey Kovarik & Michael Tubach
The Key Role of Guidelines on Exchanges of Information Among Competitors and the Divergent Transatlantic Paths
Jan 23, 2025 by
Rosa Abrantes-Metz & Albert Metz
Leniency, Whistleblowers, and Compliance
Jan 23, 2025 by
Richard Powers, Tara O’Malley & Cory Gordon