EC accepts carrier proposals on rate announcements and closes antitrust case

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After a process lasting more than five years the European Commission announced today it has closed its investigation into antitrust pricing allegations against 14 container lines trading between Asia and Europe.

To mitigate the EC’s concerns over so-called ‘price signalling’ by the carriers on the tradelane, a deal has been struck that will see the container lines “stop publishing and communicating GRI (general rate increase) announcements”.

Instead, if they so choose, the carriers will publish all-inclusive maximum freight rates for the route – however, ...