# Cartel prohibition

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> A cartel prohibition is the legal ban on agreements between competitors that restrict or prevent competition—covering in particular price-fixing, output limitations, market sharing, and bid-rigging.

A cartel prohibition is the legal ban on agreements between competitors that restrict or prevent competition—covering in particular price-fixing, output limitations, market sharing, and bid-rigging. In transport and logistics, the prohibition carries particular weight: freight forwarders, shipping lines, and carriers operate in concentrated markets where the temptation to coordinate is structurally high. Common violations include joint rate schedules among forwarders, concerted capacity cuts, and the allocation of customer accounts between rivals. In the EU, Article 101 TFEU is the primary legal basis, supported by competition laws in individual member states. The European Commission and national competition authorities enforce the ban through substantial fines, and it applies regardless of whether the arrangement was put in writing or agreed only verbally.

**Source:** [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12016E101](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12016E101)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Cartel prohibition |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 119 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12016E101 |

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