Freight News

No Brussels probe into shipping rates – for now

[ January 25, 2021   //   Chris ]

The European Shippers Council says that it has been told at a recent meeting by the European Commission Competition Directorate that it did not see the recent shipping price hikes as a justification to start an investigation as this would require either a formal review of the Consortia block exemption or a legal complaint. However, DG Competition acknowledged that the situation needed a global overview and at least a renewal of the discussions with the maritime competition authorities in other parts of the world, the last trialogue with the US FMC and China Ministry of Commerce having taken place in 2019.

The Commission suggested that it would establish a dialogue between all the market participants and set up an action plan. ESC will consider with CLECAT whether there is a case for filing an official complaint to the European Commission.

Tags: European Shippers Council; ESC; European Competition