Ecuador: Following neighbors, Ecuador moves against paper companies

Pedro Páez, head of Ecuador’s Superintendence for Market Power and Control, has announced that his agency will launch an investigation on a number of companies dedicated to the sale and manufacture of tissue paper in order to determine whether any violations to the country’s competition laws have occurred. The move, the superintendent admits, is motivated by the recent results of similar investigations in Chile, Colombia and Perú.

“We in Ecuador are looking into this as a result of the outcomes of investigations taking place in our neighbor countries, precisely because it’s beneficial for us to take advantage of the ‘wind sock’ effect and follow the directions of those before us”, said Mr. Paez.

The superintendent confirmed that the case was initially motivated by revelations of a similar price-fixing case in Chile involving major companies, such as Chile’s own CMPC and Sweden’s SCA. Both companies have a foothold in Ecuador, through their local affiliates (CMPC TIssue Ecuador and TENA, respectively.)

Full Content: Diario Financiero

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