China’s NDRC Fines Auto Parts and Bearings Companies

On August 20, China’s National Development & Reform Commission (“NDRC”) announced total fines of RMB 1.24 billion (~$200 million; €150 million) against a number of companies in the auto parts and bearings industries. NDRC also has pursued investigations of a number of auto makers for imposing restraints on the pricing of spare parts and maintenance. These investigations as well as the significant fines imposed in 2013 across a number of industries indicate NDRC’s growing willingness and ability to pursue companies, both foreign and domestic, for pricing-related violations of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law.