Apple, Amazon Face Fresh Review in Spain Antitrust Dispute
Synopsis
Spain’s competition regulator has criticized Apple and Amazon for taking too long to amend anti-competitive clauses linked to Apple product sales on Amazon’s Spanish platform. The CNMC said the companies did not refine contractual terms within the expected timeframe and warned that additional sanctions could follow. The dispute is part of broader European scrutiny of digital marketplace practices and reseller restrictions.
Spain’s antitrust regulator has criticised Apple and Amazon for delays in revising anti-competitive contract clauses affecting Apple product sales on Amazon Spain. The CNMC said corrective measures were not implemented quickly enough and warned of possible further sanctions. The case forms part of wider European scrutiny of digital marketplace practices.
Key Highlights
- Spain’s CNMC criticises Apple and Amazon over delayed contract changes.
- Case concerns restrictions on Apple product resellers in Spain.
- Regulator warns further sanctions possible for slow compliance.
- Apple and Amazon reported $383.3B and $574.8B revenue in 2023.
Spain’s competition authority has stepped up pressure on Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., saying the companies did not revise anti-competitive contract clauses within the required timeframe in a long-running Spanish antitrust case.
The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) said the companies were too slow to comply with an earlier order requiring changes to distribution agreements governing the sale of Apple products on Amazon’s Spanish platform. The regulator had fined the two companies a combined €194 million in 2023 after finding that certain clauses restricted competition among sellers of Apple devices in Spain.
Reseller Restrictions at the Centre of the Case
According to the CNMC, the agreements limited the number of independent resellers allowed to offer Apple products on Amazon Spain. The regulator previously found that the arrangement reduced competition and narrowed consumer choice by excluding a large portion of third-party sellers from the marketplace.
The watchdog ordered both companies to amend the clauses immediately. However, it now says the changes were not implemented promptly, prompting a new compliance review that could result in additional sanctions under Spanish competition law.
Apple and Amazon have both said they disagree with aspects of the regulator’s findings and have defended their compliance efforts.
Wider Digital Market Enforcement
The Spanish antitrust case comes amid tighter oversight of large digital platforms across the European Union. Competition authorities have focused on marketplace practices where platform operators also act as direct retailers, raising concerns about equal access for third-party sellers.
Apple reported $383.3 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2023, while Amazon posted $574.8 billion in net sales for the same year, according to company filings. Europe represents a significant market for both firms, particularly in online retail and consumer electronics.
Spain’s regulator said it will continue assessing whether the revised contract terms fully address competition concerns in the Apple-Amazon marketplace relationship.
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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