Spanish competition regulator CNMC has notified the country’s courts of a “high parallel pricing” in several gasoline products investigated by the Civil Guard law enforcement agency. The finding has quickly led to calls for a full investigation into possible price fixing by leading gas distributors Repsol, Cepsa, Disa and Meroil.
CNMC’s president José María Marín Quemada clarified that the fact that prices have risen in tandem in these markets is not enough to determine any unlawful or anti-competitive behavior. The agency would require solid proof to certify any price-fixing agreements that may have taken place among the companies in question.
“Only through gathering direct evidence (communications or agreements between competitors) have we in the past been able to verify the existence of horizontal, uncompetitive deals” said Marín, while urging the Spanish courts to authorize tougher probing techniques, such as dawn raids or the requisition of phone records.
Full Content: El Español
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
CVS Health Explores Potential Breakup Amid Investor Pressure: Report
Oct 3, 2024 by
CPI
DirecTV Acquires Dish TV, Creating 20 Million-Subscriber Powerhouse
Oct 3, 2024 by
CPI
South Korea Fines Kakao Mobility $54.8 Million for Anti-Competitive Practices
Oct 3, 2024 by
CPI
Google Offers Settlement in India’s Antitrust Case Regarding Smart TVs
Oct 3, 2024 by
CPI
Attorney Challenges NCAA’s $2.78 Billion Settlement in Landmark Antitrust Cases
Oct 3, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Refusal to Deal
Sep 27, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust’s Refusal-to-Deal Doctrine: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Sep 27, 2024 by
Erik Hovenkamp
Why All Antitrust Claims are Refusal to Deal Claims and What that Means for Policy
Sep 27, 2024 by
Ramsi Woodcock
The Aspen Misadventure
Sep 27, 2024 by
Roger Blair & Holly P. Stidham
Refusal to Deal in Antitrust Law: Evolving Jurisprudence and Business Justifications in the Align Technology Case
Sep 27, 2024 by
Timothy Hsieh