The FTC is interviewing Amazon sellers as part of antitrust probe
Antitrust officials have begun interviewing Amazon sellers to determine whether the e-commerce giant is using its market power to hurt competition.
Federal Trade Commission investigators have been conducting interviews with Amazon merchants, covering a range of topics, reports Bloomberg. All were asked what percentage of revenue their businesses derive from Amazon versus other online marketplaces like Walmart Inc. and EBay Inc. It suggests regulators are skeptical about Amazon’s claims that shoppers and suppliers have real alternatives to the Seattle-based company.
The interviews indicate the agency is in the early stages of a sweeping probe to learn how Amazon works, spot practices that break the law and identify markets dominated by the company.
The FTC is also seeking to determine the extent of Amazon’s power over its suppliers. All three merchants fielded questions on how much of their revenue comes from Amazon compared with other online platforms. Many sellers get 90% or more of their sales from Amazon, making them vulnerable to the company’s demands and abrupt, unexplained changes in its policy.
More Amazon news
New Australian Amazon Fulfillment Center in Perth
New Amazon Fulfillment Center in Australia Opening of the new Fulfillment center in Australia is significant for merchants looking to use Amazon FBA in this country Amazon has opened a new fulfillment center in Perth on the Western coast of Australia. The facility...
US considers putting Amazon overseas websites on counterfeit blacklist
Trump administration considers putting Amazon on “Notorious Markets” list Trump administration is considering putting some of Amazon overseas websites on a list of global marketplaces known for counterfeit goods, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar...
China insists on the removal of existing US tariffs
US-China Trade Deal Beijing’s top priority in the trade deal with the United States is the removal of existing tariffs on Chinese goods “Sources with direct knowledge of the trade talks told the Global Times on Saturday that the U.S. must remove existing...
