March 23rd, 2022 
Meti Disasa PRESS RELEASE
The COMESA Competition Commission (the “Commission”) has commenced investigations, pursuant to Article 22 of the COMESA Competition Regulations (the “Regulations”), into potential violations of Articles 16 and 19 of the Regulations by various shipping liner companies operating in the Common Market, namely: Maersk, CMA-CGM and United Africa Feeder Line.
In particular, the Commission has observed that the shipping liners have issued price announcements which may be an infraction of Article 16 of the Regulations. The Commission has preliminary concerns that price announcements are a form of coordinated behaviour or concerted practice.
Part 3 of the Regulations, particularly Article 16, prohibits all agreements which may affect trade between Member States and have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition in the Common Market. Furthermore, Article 19 prohibits agreements or arrangements between competitors which, among others, allocate customers and markets within the Common Market. As such, the Commission will assess the extent to which the price announcements are compatible with the Regulations.
The Commission hereby invites all interested stakeholders to submit representations on these allegations by 30 April 2022. All interested stakeholders wishing to make representations to the Commission are invited to contact Mrs Stellah Onyancha, Manager, Enforcement and Exemptions, by telephone on +265 (0) 1 772 466 or via email at sonyancha@comesa.int.
Meti Demissie Disasa
The Registrar
COMESA Competition Commission
5th Floor, Kang’ombe House
P.O. Box 30742
Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Office Phone: +265 (0) 1 772466
Email: mdisasa@comesa.int or compcom@comesa.int
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