A Canadian federal court has ordered a group of major agriculture companies to hand over records and communications as part of an antitrust probe sparked by allegations certain businesses tried to block online farm-supply startup Farmers Business Network Inc (FBN).
In a series of court orders dispatched on Tuesday, Canadian Federal Court Justice Denis Gascon said he was satisfied Canada’s Competition Bureau was conducting an antitrust probe and that the named companies – which include Bayer AG , Corteva Inc, and BASF – would have or were likely to have information relevant to the inquiry.
Farm supply wholesalers, including Cargill Inc, Univar Solutions Inc and Federated Co-Operatives Limited, have also been ordered to produce records. The companies have between 60 to 90 calendar days to comply, depending on the specific order.
Last week, the Canadian Competition Bureau confirmed an inquiry into certain agriculture companies was underway.
BASF, Corteva, Bayer and Cargill said on Thursday they would cooperate with the Competition Bureau’s investigation, which was launched following a complaint from California-based online retailer Farmers Business Network Inc (FBN)
The Competition Bureau had told the court in Jan. 30 filings that it was seeking records and communications from the seed, pesticide and wholesaling companies which are alleged to have stopped supplying FBN’s newly acquired Canadian business in 2018.
The alleged conduct by the agriculture companies under inquiry, the regulator told the court, may also impede or delay FBN’s successful expansion into the Canadian marketplace and/or cause the company to exit altogether.
Full Content: The London Free Press
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
UK Probes Lindab’s Acquisition of HAS-Vent Amid Fears of Market Monopoly
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Shein Faces EU Regulations Over User Data
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Google Fights Back Against US Antitrust Lawsuit
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
US Homeland Security Establishes Blue-Ribbon Board with Tech CEOs to Advise on AI
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
FTC Accuses Amazon Executives of Using Disappearing Messaging Apps to Conceal Evidence
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI