China Fines 21 Companies for Anti-Competition Breaches

China’s Ministry of Transport has fined 21 companies, including such big names as CSCL and Evergreen, for unfair competition practices.

Fines totaling nearly $700,000 have been levelled for offering rates below current market prices in order to attract customers on the Sino-Japan trade.

The violations occurred during the second half of 2014, and the ministry urged the shipping companies to operate fairly to maintain sustainable growth for the industry.

The companies fined include China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), Evergreen Line, Wan Hai Lines, Sinotrans Container Lines, Yang Ming Marine Transport, Cheng Lie Navigation, Shanghai Haihua Shipping and MCC Transport, reports Seatrade Maritime.

Last year an investigation was launched by the ministry after Chinese shipowners trading on the route complained to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange about the C3 alliance. C3 was formed by COSCO, China Shipping and Sinotrans in May.

The case has been seen by some as a test of whether China will treat its own carriers the same as it did the attempted P3 Network. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce rejected the planned P3 alliance between Maersk Line, CMA CGM and MSC last year.