The Competition Committee received an appeal from an entrepreneur engaged in the sale of ice products within the premises of Food City Tashkent LLC, stating that the market administration had been creating artificial barriers to business activities.
In particular, it was reported that the fee for bringing packaged and unpackaged ice into the market had been increased several times, with the daily fee set at UZS 737,000, allegedly in an attempt to force the entrepreneur out of the market.
The Committee examined the circumstances outlined in the appeal and sent an official inquiry to the market administration. During the review process, negotiations were held between Food City Tashkent LLC and the entrepreneur, resulting in an agreement. Consequently, the issue raised in the appeal was resolved positively, and the unjustifiably increased fee was cancelled.
In this regard, the Competition Committee warns all entities possessing superior bargaining power, regardless of their form of ownership.
Pursuant to Article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Competition”, superior bargaining power is recognized where a business entity or a group of persons that does not hold a dominant position has the ability to unilaterally determine the terms of a transaction, the territory where goods are sold, or the price. Abuse of superior bargaining power constitutes grounds for the application of financial sanctions in accordance with the Law “On Competition”.
