EU: EC renews sea shipping antitrust exemption

The European Commission announced Tuesday that it has decided to extend antitrust exemption given to shipping liner joint ventures for another five years.

According to the watchdog, the antitrust exemption will be valid until April 2020.

After public consultation, the regulator said the exemptions provide “legal certainty” to deals that benefit consumers and do not harm competition. Under terms of the exemption rules, shipping lines with less than 30 percent market share can enter into cargo transport joint ventures, often improving service quality, the Commission said.

The Commission’s decision to prolong antirust exemption for these partnerships follows a decision earlier this month by Chinese authorities to block the so-called P3 shipping alliance, which had been approved by the US and EU.

Full content: Europa

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