News
The European Commission is inviting comments on the legal framework exempting liner shipping consortia from EU antitrust rules that prohibit anticompetitive agreements between companies, known as the ''Consortia Block Exemption Regulation.''
EU law generally bans agreements between companies that restrict competition. However, the maritime Consortia Block Exemption Regulation allows, under certain conditions, shipping lines with a combined market share of below 30% to enter into cooperation agreements to provide joint cargo transport services (known as consortia).
The Consortia Block Exemption Regulation will expire on April 25, 2020. The commission has therefore launched a consultation seeking to collect views from stakeholders to assist its assessment of the impact and relevance of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation, and to provide evidence for determining whether it should be left to expire or prolonged, and if so, under which conditions.
In particular, the competition watchdog is seeking the views of shipping companies, their clients (shippers and freight forwarders), port operators and their respective associations. Other interested parties include industry analysts, academics, and law firms specializing in competition law and the maritime sector. The competition authorities of the EU Member States will also be consulted.
All stakeholders are invited to submit their views on the Commission's consultation website until December 20, 2018.
