No Fight Against Dumping Prices

In the face of fierce criticism from Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture Minister Renate Künast has decided not to wage a battle against price dumping. Künast told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper she would not introduce a law to prevent the practice. The minister maintained though that market power should not be used to squeeze out competition. Consumers too should be protected from being lured into buying things, she added.

Last week Kunäst threatened to take action against discounters and supermarkets selling products at dumping prices. She asserted that the cheap deals harm competition and result in poor quality wares.