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On 13 September, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager answered to the parliamentary question from MEPs Tom Berendsen (NL, PPE), Annie Schreijer-Pierik (NL, PPE), and Henna Virkkunen (FI, PPE) on unfair practices in the container shipping industry that disrupt entire supply chains. In its response, the Commission recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic had unprecedented effects on both the demand and supply sides and caused wide fluctuations in demand. The Commission notes that it continues to monitor the market conditions on a number of indicators (port calls, shipping deployment, freight rates, connectivity...), with a view to identifying measures, which could facilitate return to normal operations. It adds that antitrust compliance is also monitored, with regards to alliances and 'other types of conduct.'

As noted in the above article, CLECAT calls on the European Commission to review the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation as early as possible. Covid’ cannot serve as a reason for inaction as its distortive effects will be with us for many years. European industry and consumers cannot wait for Covid to subside before the Commission begins to fully address structural issues. Inaction now could cause irreparable harm to market participants along the logistics chain. Also given that this is a period in which liner shipping companies make record earnings, now is the time to start the review of the regulatory framework of liner shipping.