Germany orders Amazon to stop price controls, repay €59M over anti-competitive practices.

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has ordered Amazon to stop enforcing price controls on third-party sellers in its German marketplace and repay 59 million euros ($70 million) in alleged unfair profits, citing anti-competitive behavior. The watchdog found Amazon’s non-transparent pricing practices gave the company an unfair advantage by influencing competitors’ prices, especially given its dominant 60% share of online sales. The ruling stems from a 2022 investigation and prohibits Amazon from using such controls except in rare cases like excessive pricing. Amazon plans to appeal, arguing the decision contradicts EU competition law and could harm consumers and sellers. The appeal will be heard by Germany’s Federal Court of Justice, and the investigation remains ongoing, meaning the repayment amount could increase.