German authorities have announced plans to investigate potential abuse by Amazon of its dominant market position. Andreas Mundt, head of the Federal Cartel Office told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that his agency would examine whether the the company was influencing the price-setting of third-party traders. Suspicion over Amazon’s potential malfeasance emerged during the coronavirus pandemic as some accused it of blocking traders through allegedly excessive prices. “Amazon must not be a price controller,” said Mundt. “This applies even now.” Amazon rejects the accusations, claiming its internal systems are programmed to take action against price gouging.
