As announced at the end of last year ( of 20 November 2023), the UK's Competition and Markets Authority confirmed that he will not advise the Secretary of State to Business and Trade to replace the current CBER regulation block exemption for consortia of which will remain in force until next year. 25 April, with an equivalent British standard providing for an exemption from competition law for certain forms of cooperation between liner companies. The CMA's decision, made official in recent days, follows the one taken last year October from the European Commission ( of 10 November 2023). The CBER Regulation has been introduced by the European Commission in 2009 and has been maintained in the legislation at the end of 2020 when the UK is left the EU.

According to the CMA, cooperation between shipping companies It is better and more effective when they are the same maritime carriers to comply with existing competition rules and, in particular, Chapter I of the Competition Act of 1998. Otherwise - the authority specified British Antitrust - The 114 airlines participating in Consortium agreements currently exempted should consider applying an exemption by alternative category.

In this regard, the CMA noted that many line navigation must already assess their own compliance with competition rules, given that the combined market share of the consortia in which they participate exceeds thresholds allowed by the CBER Block Exemption.

Justifying the decision not to renew the validity of the Regulation, the CMA recalled that liner shipping to the United Kingdom, as part of a single service, call at EU ports and line that these services operate, given that the EU has decided to their block exemption expire, they will have to consider compliance with competition laws of the EU, as well as having to consider compliance with EU laws, on competition in the United Kingdom. Given that there is no will apply no automatic exemption," the CMA explained the value of an automatic exemption under UK law It would therefore be significantly reduced.

The CMA's pronouncement was welcomed by the British Freight Forwarders' Association International Freight Association (BIFA): "Even if this Changes in the rules, if implemented, will not put an end to consortia and the alliances of the airlines - noted the director BIFA's General Manager, Steve Parker - will allow for a agreements and to ensure that the airlines are fully subject to the competition. This is appreciated by BIFA and its and we ask the Secretary of State for Enterprise and the Trade to support the agency's decision'.

"BIFA and its associates," Parker said, "do not They are against liner shipping companies. Associates know that shipping companies are essential parts of the global supply chain and are confident that this decision will create a appropriate balance between shipping companies as carriers and associates as customers, leading to the creation of a long-lasting stable and stable container shipping market success, in the best interests of all those who are committed to in international trade'.