EU Market Regulation or Double Standards(6/24/2010)

EU market regulators on the market for price manipulation and other allies to combat monopolistic behavior has never been by no means soft on offenders increasingly high fines, but the recent two cases, people will ask: morality in bad can be a double standard?

Within the EU is for a single investigation and processing enterprises. Paris, June 23 issue of the "International Herald Tribune" news "EU antitrust authorities to show mercy in the penalty," said EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia ?said he would "deal firmly with a price cartel" But now he faced difficult market conditions, many companies request for his tolerance, he has shown some leniency. Just this week three, there are 17 EU sanitary equipment manufacturer convicted in the past 12 years, the formation of prices through the alliance of conspiracy to control the market price of the products obtained large profits. The company was fined 622.3 million euros (about 767 million U.S. dollars). Likely to result in heavy fines as a direct bankrupt enterprises closed, five of which Almunia to reduce the fines. Almunia also said that in future antitrust cases, he will make arrangements for an exception. He referred to "future cases", including conspiracy to price airline cargo services, as well as certain products of steel companies.

Another single case, the EU will be able to demonstrate strong side. This week, the European Commission announced that the tiles imported from China initiated anti-dumping investigations to determine whether anti-dumping duties. May 7 this year, representing the interests of EU producers alliance of European tile manufacturers make a formal application to the European Commission, called for anti-dumping measures taken by the Chinese tile. These companies claim that, compared to the U.S. market prices, the Chinese ceramic tiles market in Europe, the price is too low, resulting in significant increase in market share in Europe, the European manufacturers of similar adverse effects. EU anti-dumping investigation procedures usually last one year, a maximum of 15 months, in deciding whether to levy anti-dumping duties formally before the European Commission can take temporary anti-dumping measures. For as long as manufacturers do not need a survey and found the results, the EU's restrictive measures can be started automatically. Chinese Commerce Ministry is thus that China is resolutely opposed to any abuse of anti-dumping rules, encourage the practice of trade protectionism.

From two single cases, we can see, the European Union for the enterprise market manipulation, taking the typical double standard. On the EU's own business, you can be generous. For Chinese enterprises, it can kill. Indeed, high unemployment in Europe is indeed a headache, there are dynamic enterprises on the kill seems out of date. However, the double standard will always be the enemy of market economy, troubled world then bad, double standards are bad things.(by China Leiyuan, 6/24/2010)