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ARTICLE · 30 MARCH 2022

ACCC turns attention to anti-competitive behaviour in international trade

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The ACCC has also listed the global and domestic supply chain sector as one of its enforcement priorities for 2022/23.

AustraliaAntitrust/Competition Law
Nathan Cecil
Nathan Cecil
Melanie Long
Melanie Long
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On 18 February 2022, the Australia Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) announced that it had joined forces with its counterparts in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand to form a new 'five eyes' working group to prevent anti-competitive conduct in the global supply chain. Soon after this announcement, the ACCC also listed the global and domestic supply chain sector as one of its enforcement priorities for 2022/23.

Both announcements come off the back of some intense criticism over the past 12-18 months of stevedores and shipping lines from shippers, importers and freight forwarding groups. They argue that stevedores and shipping lines are taking advantage of the rising demand for their services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by lifting freight rates beyond market dictated levels. The effect of this is said to be higher prices for consumers, another key concern for the ACCC. 

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