Mexico: Regulator facing 288 appeal suits in 2019

The Federal Commission for Economic Competition of Mexico (COFECE) revealed that it has faced a total of 288 lawsuits filed by companies dissatisfied with the fines and resolutions issued by the regulator throughout the first half of 2019.

Out of the nearly 300 contested cases, 4 have been dismissed by the judges. 4 more were granted the requested appeals, with two more being denied. The latter two affected the tortilla sector as well as the marine transport of motor vehicles and rolling machinery for the agricultural sector. The first of these, presented by Arturo Javier Solano Chairman of the steering committee of United Groups of Industrialists of Dough and Tortilla, sought to eliminate the $150,000 peso fine for monopolistic practices in the corn tortilla sector in the state of Jalisco , Mexico.

The second injunction dates from an investigation concluded two years ago when the COFECE issued a $581.7 million pesos fine to “an international cartel,” as it was reffered to by the agency, formed by the companies South American Steam Company, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, K Line America, Mitsui OSK Lines, Mitsui OSK Bulk Shipping, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, and Wallenius Wilhlmsen Logistics that between 2009 and 2012 through 9 “collusive contracts” agreed to assign each other segments of transport routes with 5 ports in Mexico as a point of origin for destinations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Japan, India, Indonesia, and Belgium, in order to reduce competition and raise their prices.

Full Content: Jornada

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.