It is reported that Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) found that the country’s stainless steel giant Aperam had offered economic advantages to its distributor AMIB and lead damage to its competitors, and CADE fined Aperam at R$5.57 million because of it.

The complaint was raised by Inox-Tech and the National Union of Ferrous Metals Drawing and Rolling Industry (SICETEL), which claimed that Aperam was giving discount and fixed volumes that could be taken over by competitors, in order to hinder imports of stainless steel.

Besides, they accused Aperam refused to sell stainless steel to its competitors by imposing unfair conditions to independent distributors.

Aperam and CADE entered into a Consent Decree Term (CBT) in which the company recognized the anticompetitive practice and has committed to close up to nine months all current agreements with its distributors to fit them to the new rules, which excludes discounts.