The Round Table, chaired by Russell Pittman of the US Department of Justice, reviewed
trends in horizontal and vertical integration in logistics businesses, maritime shipping, ports
and rail freight transport and examined the circumstances in which integration might reduce
the efficiency of the transport system. There are likely to be net benefits to society from such
integration in competitive markets but if integration eliminates competition, market power
might result in excessive prices, suboptimal investment and lower than optimal levels of
service for the users of transport services. Options for sector specific regulators and
competition authorities to manage the risks of market abuse were discussed and the
adequacy of antitrust law and competition authorities to take remedial action should
businesses exploit market power were assessed.
