The Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) has said that it welcomes the news that the EU’s new Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, will be keeping a ‘close eye’ on the mega-alliances in the container industry (see The Mover, January 2015, Page 20).

 
GSF is in full support of the move and had previously called on the European Competition Commission to monitor closely such alliances for compliance with EU competition rules.

The Global Shippers’ Forum, incorporated in 2011, claims to be the global voice for shippers from Asia, Australasia, Europe, North and South America and Africa.  The GSF is focussed on the impact of commercial developments in the international freight transportation industry and the policy decisions of governments and international organisations that affect shippers and receivers of freight.  

GSF Secretary General, Chris Welsh, said: "GSF welcomes the news that the Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager is to monitor the new mega-alliances more closely, and fully supports her decision to do so.  Effective monitoring of such alliances is absolutely essential to ensure they are compliant with the general provisions of the EU competition rules.”
 
Ms Vestager has said her monitoring is to include the 2M alliance between the two biggest container carriers in the world, Maersk Line and MSC, and stated that if necessary she will ‘strike’ against 2M or one of the other major alliances if they were to interfere with free competition.
 
Commissioner Vestager has also called on shippers and other industry players to pay attention and notify the EU if they suspect something is amiss.