Press Release: Competition: Commission calls for comments on effects on competition of information exchange in liner shipping markets

The European Commission has published a staff paper on the potential impact of information exchanges between liner carriers on the market for liner shipping. The Commission is concerned that exchanges of information could lead in practice to a co-ordination of prices and other trading conditions between liner carriers. Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments by 31 October 2006. The paper is an interim step in the preparation of Guidelines on the application of the EC Treaty competition rules to the maritime transport sector due to be finalised in 2008. This consultation follows the repeal of the block exemption for liner shipping conferences decided by the Competitiveness Council on 25 September 2006 (see IP/06/1249 and MEMO/06/344).