Germany’s antitrust regulator fines Amazon €59 million for imposing illegal price controls on third-party sellers, marking its first financial penalty against the e-commerce giant.
FRANKFURT: Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has fined Amazon approximately €59 million (US$67 million) for unlawful pricing practices.
The antitrust authority also ordered the e-commerce giant to change its conduct.
The regulator stated Amazon had imposed illegal price requirements on third-party sellers using its Marketplace platform.
This decision marks the first financial action by Germany’s top competition watchdog against Amazon.
Amazon holds an estimated 60% share of Germany’s online retail market.
The Bonn-based regulator has previously ordered Amazon and other US tech firms to change behaviour to prevent market power from restricting competition.
With this latest ruling, the authority has again stepped up enforcement.
Amazon sells goods directly and allows third-party merchants to sell via its Marketplace platform.
The regulator noted the Marketplace accounts for 60% of Amazon’s revenue in Germany.
