The European Union is set to file antitrust charges against Amazon over its treatment of sellers, according to peoplefamiliar with the matter.
According to one source, the charges will be formally filed next week or the week after at the latest . The EU Commission team responsible for the case has been circulating a draft of the charges sheet for several months, according to another source
The formal charges will complete the Commission's nearly two-year-long investigation into Amazon regarding allegations of mistreatment of third-party merchants using its platform.
The EU Commission began in 2018, and was officially announced the following year. The investigation aimed to find out whether Amazon was using data from sellers using platform to make a profit.
As some have stated, the charges stem from Amazon's dual role as a shopping platform operator and at the same time as a seller of its own products. Because of this, the European Union accuses Amazon of exploiting data from third-party sellers and using information . This allows the company to compete with them without any difficulty, for example by launching similar products to them.
The retailer declined to comment, having previously denied abusing its power and size, saying retailers typically sell their own private labels.
"European consumers are increasingly shopping online. Online commerce has increased competition for retailers and brought more choice and better prices. We need to make sure that large online commerce platforms do not eliminate these benefits through unfair competition. That is why I have decided to look closely at Amazon's business practices and its dual role," said EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
