Colombia’s competition authority sanctioned the country’s main wholesale market operator and several of its executives after concluding that amendments introduced to its internal operating rules may have restricted free competition.
According to the investigation, provisions adopted in 2022 limited the entry of certain traders into the wholesale market, creating barriers that could affect the participation of new market players. The authority found that these measures had the potential to reduce competitive dynamics within the marketplace and impact price, quality, and product variety available to retailers, merchants, and consumers.
The decision also states that the restrictions could have affected both buyers and suppliers operating within the market by limiting opportunities to interact with new commercial participants in the wholesale sector.
In addition to imposing monetary sanctions, the authority ordered the implementation of corrective measures aimed at amending the entity’s internal regulations and preventing the recurrence of practices considered contrary to competition rules.
