Category: Global Blogs

US: Metals group makes push into aerospace (Competition Policy International)

Commodity metals manufacturer Alcoa announced Thursday it has reached a deal to acquire Firth Rixson, a maker of aerospace components, in a $2.85 billion acquisition, reports say.

Alcoa is looking to strengthen its operations in higher-margin finished goods, and acquiring the UK firm will redirect its business, according to reports. Firth …read more

EU: Commission threatens foreign steel import taxes (Competition Policy International)

The European Commission is reportedly considering imposing import taxes on stainless steel products from China and Taiwan in efforts to protect domestic competition in the market.

The EU authority has already launched an inquiry into the foreign importers to examine whether the companies are dumping their products in the EU at …read more

South Korea: Watchdog eyes international price-fixers (Competition Policy International)

South Korea’s competition authority has reportedly launched an investigation into manufacturers of bearing parts based in Japan and Germany on suspicion of price manipulation.

According to an unnamed government source, the Fair Trade Commission are probing bearing makers for price collusion, affecting manufacturers within South Korea. An official at the FTC …read more

UK: Full energy investigation launched (Competition Policy International)

As speculated earlier this week the UK’s competition and Markets Authority has launched a full investigation into Britain’s energy market amid rising electricity costs and claims of an anticompetitive climate.

According to reports, energy regulator Ofgem announced Thursday that the CMA’s market inquiry will ensure “once and for all” that the …read more