2016 Mid-Year Global Cartel Enforcement Report

Cartel enforcement activity promises to remain busy in the coming months and into 2017

Cartel enforcement remains a priority for competition authorities around the world. Global cartel fines totaled more than $6 billion through August, putting 2016 on pace to meet or exceed last year's annual total. Fines in the United States were lower in the first part of 2016 than they were in the same period of 2015, based largely on the absence this year of a case approaching the size of the fines handed down by the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) in connection with the foreign exchange investigation in 2015. There were still, however, several substantial fines imposed in connection with the ongoing auto parts, shipping, and capacitors investigations.

The slower fining pace of the United States was offset by very large fines imposed in the European Union, India, and Korea. The European Commission imposed its largest fine evernearly3 billion ($3.3 billion)on truck manufacturers. India followed suit with fines totaling Rs 6700 crores ($1...