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wsj~U.S., EU Scrutinize Container Shipping Rates

* JUNE 1, 2010
As Prices Rise, Regulators Monitor Carriers for Any Signs of Price Fixing

BY JOHN W. MILLER

BRUSSELS—A U.S. regulator and the European Union's competition watchdog are monitoring the world's top container shipping lines for any evidence of price fixing.

The scrutiny comes as the prices shipping lines charge have continued to rise even as the industry's supply of new ships has continued to increase sharply.

The shipping lines, including industry leader AP-Moeller-Maersk AS, deny they are operating a cartel.

The Federal Maritime Commission in the U.S., where carriers enjoy broad antitrust immunity, has opened a "fact finding" investigation into shipping rates. It is due to submit an interim report on June 15 and a final report ...