中国官方出台公用事业领域反垄断指南

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese State Council Anti-Monopoly and Anti-Unfair Competition Committee has issued guidelines aimed at preventing and curbing monopolistic behaviors in the public utility sector, ensuring fair market competition and protecting consumer and public interests [1][2] Group 1: Guidelines Overview - The guidelines address the unique characteristics and market competition rules of the public utility sector, which includes water supply, electricity, gas, and heating, where natural monopolies are prevalent [1] - They provide a systematic summary of enforcement experiences and clarify the rules for identifying monopolistic behaviors in the public utility sector [1] Group 2: Specific Monopolistic Behaviors - The guidelines detail common monopolistic agreements in industries such as bottled liquefied gas, as well as abusive practices like limiting transactions, tying sales, and imposing unreasonable trading conditions in sectors like water, electricity, gas, and heating [1] - They also specify that monopolistic agreements and abuses of market dominance related to pricing must be assessed in the context of government-mandated pricing and fee standards [1] Group 3: Additional Restrictions - The guidelines further elaborate on practices that restrict competition, such as limiting transactions, hindering market entry for other operators, and forcing local public utility operators to invest or establish branches in specific areas [2] - They clarify the standards for identifying these anti-competitive behaviors, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enforcement in the public utility sector [2]