Philips Fined by Korea Fair Trade Commission for Price Fixing

The Fair Trade Commission of Korea has fined Philips, a Dutch company, for price fixing.  The Fair Trade Commission fined Philips KRW 1.5billion (USD 1.3 million) for, inter alia, prohibiting online retailers from offering discounts and certain products to potential buyers.

Philips, according to the Korea’s Fair Trade Commission is the top small appliance company in Korea with a 57% share of the electric toothbrush market, 61% share of the electric shaver market; 45% share of the iron market; and a 31% share of the coffee-maker market.

The Fair Trade Commission has contented that prices have not decreased after the implementation of the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement, because of price fixing by manufacturers. 

Philips is the first EU company to be fined by the Fair Trade Commission.

Other articles on this issue and the Korea Fair Trade Commission:

•  FTC to Investigate European Car Makers
• Fines by Fair Trade Commission Increases for Unfair Market Practices
• Nongyup Sues Fair Trade Commission at Seoul High Court
• Korean Fair Trade Commission to Investigate Chaebols (Samsung/LG)
• Price Fixing and FTAs in Korea

Also, search via the labels to the right (Korean Antitrust Law).
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Sean Hayes, IPG’s Co-Chair of the Korea Practice Team, may be contacted at: SeanHayes@ipglegal.com