PORTUGAL Law and Practice Contributed by: Armando Martins Ferreira, Inês Sequeira Mendes and Margarida Calixto Kolmer, Abreu Advogados
justified and structured properly, but reaffirm the prohibition of classic hardcore restrictions, even when they are presented under an ESG label. 7.10 Crisis Cartels Post-pandemic inflation and supply chain dis - ruptions have played a significant role in shap - ing cartel enforcement in Portugal. The PCA has been closely monitoring industries where price volatility and supply constraints could create opportunities for anti-competitive behaviour. Inflationary pressures, particularly in energy and food markets, have led to concerns about price fixing and collusion among suppliers seeking to stabilise profits amid fluctuating costs. Addi - tionally, supply chain disruptions have increased scrutiny on distribution networks, where compa - nies may engage in market allocation or bid rig - ging to secure contracts in uncertain economic conditions. As inflation stabilises, enforcement efforts are expected to focus on preventing long-term anti- competitive agreements that emerged during the crisis. The PCA has identified public pro - curement, retail, and digital markets as areas where firms may attempt to coordinate pricing or restrict competition. However, the expected market conditions and additional international barriers to commerce could be conducive to additional risks.
286 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook