antitrust

House passes bill expanding powers of maritime regulators

By a vote of 364 to 60, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (OSRA) on Wednesday. The bipartisan legislation moves to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers are preparing a companion bill they say will be introduced soon.

Spearheaded by Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., the bill gives the Federal Maritime Commission the power to impose minimum requirements on ocean carrier service contracts, and shifts the burden of proof...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/house-passes-bill-expanding-powers-of-maritime-regulators

Swiss megaship operator rejects allegations of collusion by US shipper

Geneva-based container line giant MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. has denied allegations of collusion and contract violations by an American home furnishings manufacturer claiming its customer’s accusations are unsubstantiated.

MSC said it was “shocked” to learn of accusations made by Easton, Pennsylvania-based MCS Industries in a complaint filed at the Federal Maritime Commission. The complaint alleges that MSC, China’s COSCO Shipping Lines and their competitors are violating U.S. maritime laws...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/swiss-megaship-operator-rejects-allegations-of-collusion-by-us-shipper

US company sues ‘collusive’ ocean carriers, alleging price manipulation

A U.S. manufacturer is accusing two of the world’s largest ocean carriers of reneging on its container service contract for imports from Asia so that the carriers can instead charge other shippers exorbitant transportation rates on the spot market.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday with the Federal Maritime Commission, Easton, Pennsylvania-based MCS Industries, a maker of household furnishings, also accuses China’s COSCO Shipping Lines, Switzerland’s MSC Mediterranean Shipping and their...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-company-sues-collusive-ocean-carriers-alleging-price-manipulation

Maritime regulator signs first-ever competition agreement with Justice Department

The Federal Maritime Commission and the antitrust division of the Department of Justice have signed an agreement to sharpen economic oversight of foreign ocean carriers serving in the U.S. international container trades.

The first-ever memorandum of understanding between the two agencies, signed on Monday, follows President Joe Biden’s executive order issued on Friday aimed at curbing potential anticompetitive behavior among 72 industries, including the maritime and freight rail sectors.

“The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maritime-regulator-signs-first-ever-competition-agreement-with-justice-department

Lawmakers advance bill that could separate Amazon’s logistics operations

House lawmakers have advanced a bill that could potentially require Amazon [NASDAQ: AMZN] to divest its logistics business.

The Ending Platform Monopolies Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Lance Gooden, R-Texas, was debated and passed by the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday by a vote of 21-20. The bill will next be considered by the full chamber.

The legislation “eliminates the ability of dominant platforms to leverage their control across multiple business lines to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lawmakers-advance-bill-that-would-separate-amazons-logistics-operations

Discussions among railroads to be allowed as evidence in price-fixing lawsuits

A photograph of intermodal containers and tank cars parked at a rail yard.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul A. Friedman determined Friday that four railroads — Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), BNSF (NYSE: BRK), CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) — must include certain evidence in ongoing legal proceedings concerning allegations of price fixing that occurred in the early 2000s. 

The proceedings, which involve over 200 shippers, are about whether the railroads applied fuel surcharges on rail rates that weren’t related to fuel. The shippers argue that the purpose...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/discussions-among-railroads-to-be-allowed-as-evidence-in-price-fixing-lawsuits

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