Mexico Looking Into Practices at Walmex

Mexico’s antitrust watchdog said it has launched an investigation of anti-competitive practices in the retail sector, apparently based on complaints filed against powerhouse Wal-Mart de Mexico.

The Federal Competition Commission announced in the official Daily Gazette that it is looking into alleged monopolistic practices, such as contracts that unfairly displace competitors and certain pricing conditions it gets from suppliers.

Distributors filed a complaint against Walmex, accusing the leading retailer of threatening to hold back purchases unless it received certain price conditions.

Executives at Walmex, which is majority owned by U.S. retailing giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., were not available for comment. The company has said it would cooperate with the investigation.