The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) has reacted quickly to the Association of Owners of River Boats of Putumayo and Amazonas (APROEF) and related transporters, taking action to suspend a rate agreement that could have raised the costs of river transport between the strategic ports of Leticia and Puerto Asis by 300%.
The complaint filed with the SIC revealed anti-competitive practices in river transport between the La Esmeralda dock in Puerto Asis, Putumayo, and Victoria Regia in Leticia, Amazonas. In its role as national competition protection authority, the SIC seeks to safeguard consumers in the Amazon, where river transport is vital for the delivery of essential products.
It is crucial to keep in mind that this measure is preliminary, and its effectiveness will depend on the administrative sanctioning process, which will determine whether these agreements really generated anticompetitive effects. The SIC has instructed APROEF and its members to immediately suspend the practices that led to the rate increases. The importance of river transport in the region, especially given the lack of land communication with Leticia, underscores the need to correct these harmful practices and ensure fair competition in this crucial service in the Amazon region.
