Argentina: CNDC to probe 11 sectors for possible competition issues

Argentina’s National Commission for the Defense of Competition (CNDC) has announced it will begin investigating 11 separate markets in order to evaluate the state of competition in each. “These investigations could lead to concrete public policy proposals, or to the opening of specific investigations looking at abuse of dominance or cartel behavior” said Miguel Braun, Argentina’s new Secretary of Commerce.

Some of the markets and products singled out are part of mass consumption, essential goods such as milk, beef, washing detergent or cooking oil, as well as services such as mobile communications, credit card and payments systems, air and land-based passenger transport, among others. However, the list also includes industrial products that are vital to the production chain of various products, greatly impacting the economy. Such is the case for steel, aluminum and petrochemical products.

Mr. Braun assured the press he has no intentions of using the CNDC “to squeeze companies”, as happened, he said, in the previous administration. However, new president Mauricio Macri has been clear in his intentions to promote competition as a public policy.

Full content: La Nación

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