The European Union is investigating Amazon for potentially imposing unfair pricing constraints on third-party sellers using its platform. The scrutiny centers on whether the company restricts merchants' ability to set competitive prices.
Amazon faces EU regulatory pressure over suspected anti-competitive practices targeting marketplace sellers. Authorities are examining whether the e-commerce giant imposes restrictions that prevent sellers from offering lower prices on competing platforms.
The investigation aligns with broader EU efforts to regulate large tech platforms under the Digital Markets Act. Regulators have increasingly focused on how dominant platforms control pricing mechanisms and seller terms.
Amazon's marketplace model relies on third-party sellers, creating potential conflicts of interest. The company operates its own retail business alongside the platform, raising concerns about fair competition.
The EU has previously targeted Amazon for competitive practices. In 2021, the bloc launched formal antitrust investigations into whether Amazon unfairly uses seller data to compete with merchants on its platform.
The company has 10 working days to respond to the EU's preliminary findings. Violations could result in fines up to 10% of global annual revenue under EU antitrust rules.
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