It is the height of competition distortion when large container carriers fully agree on fixing inflexible freight rates. That is how Chris Welch, Secretary General in Global Shippers’ Forum, a Britain-based interest group for the clients of the shipping industry, sees the recent development.
“The fact that we still see agreements in which carriers solely decide rates is very abnormal. No other industry has this kind of exception from competition regulation. It is an antiquated way of doing business”, Chris Welch tells ShippingWatch.
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