Mexico’s antitrust commission extends shutdown
Mexico’s antitrust commission (COFECE) has extended its shuttering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will remain closed until May 29.
COFECE has been shuttered since March 23, when it remained closed for an initial period until April 17, and which was followed by an extension of that closure until April 30. The closure has now been extended for a third time.
During the shuttering, all COFECE’s activities are suspended, with the exception of those related to merger control procedures and the issuance of opinions or decisions in the granting of licences, concessions, permits and similar procedures.
The commission will also attend to requests for formal opinions and general orientation, opinions related to article 12 sections XII, XIII, XIV, XV and XVIII of the Mexican Antitrust Act; public consultations; the leniency program; the benefit of exemption or reduction of the amounts of fines; and the following stage after conclusion of the investigations for anticompetitive practices or illicit concentrations.
All the writs submitted before the Commission during the initial, second and third suspension period that are not related to the procedures mentioned above will be considered submitted on June 1, according to a note from Mexican law firm Von Wobeser y Sierra, penned by partner Fernando Carreño (pictured).
