Cargo shipping companies will face a change in their operations as they will no longer enjoy an exemption from EU rules against anti-competitive agreements. The decades-long exemption was previously granted under the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER). First established in 2009, the CBER permitted liner shipping operators with a combined market share below 30 percent to collaborate on joint cargo transport services, provided they refrained from price-fixing or market-sharing.
However, the European Commission, acting as the competition enforcer for the EU, has decided to let this exemption lapse in April next year. The Commission stated that the CBER no longer promotes competition effectively or encourages cooperation among smaller carriers. Cargo shippers wishing to collaborate must now assess their actions’ compliance with EU antitrust rules.
