Chile: Cartel case against Kimberly Clark and CMPC dismissed

Chilean competition prosecutors FNE have announced the decision to shelve their investigation, dating from November 2015, into the country’s disposable diaper market. The agency had been unable to find sufficient evidence to press forward with collusion charges against the accused.

“Officials for Kimberly Clark and CMPC held meetings and exchanged sporadic phone calls between 2002 and 2009, with the likely objective of altering competition in the disposable diaper market through coordinated price hikes and, crucially, coordinating price-ranges between their products”, reads the FNE’s final report. However, the agency added that “on the date of the start of the investigation, these crimes’ statute of limitations had expired, making this inadmissible for the FNE to justify further legal action.”

The FNE’s chief, Felipe Irarrázabal, reiterated the agency’s commitment to fighting and preventing cartel formation. “Collusion is the most harmful conduct one can take against free competition, and we will continue to fight it with the seriousness and technical backup that we are known for, diligently performing the duties assigned to us by Law.”

Full Content: Terra

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.