competitionlaw

Following the receipt of a complaint, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has opened an investigation into an alleged cartel affecting the market for shipping agency’ services (Case I733, Servizi di Agenzia Marittima) . On the basis of the facts set out in the complaint, the ICA alleged that the parties had implemented the cartel in a number of phases. First, through the meetings of a first professional association, Commissione Portuale di Assagenti, which was set up by shipping agencies operating in the port of Genoa, the parties agreed on the fees to charge for their services. The cartelized fees were the Manual Documentation Fees and the Open Documentation Fees. The parties recommended which fees charge on customers within the maximum and the minimum set by ministerial decrees. Second, Assagenti was given the task to convince another professional association, Spediporto, which was set up by couriers and shippers active at the port of Genoa, to apply the recommended fee