EU Commission Seeks Input on Corning’s Commitments

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The EU Commission stated U.S. maker of break-resisting glass Corning had offered to waive all exclusive deals with mobile phone manufacturers to address apprehensions over possible anticompetitive behaviour.

The European Commission invites comments on pledges offered by Corning to resolve competition concerns over its alleged exclusive dealing concerning the supply of Alkali-aluminosilicate glass (‘Alkali-AS Glass’), a particular type of glass mainly utilised as cover glass in handheld electronic devices.

Corning, located in the US, is a multinational producer of glass for many industrial and consumer applications. It delivers alkali-AS glass, a particularly break-resistant glass mostly used as a cover for displays of portable electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, tablets, or smartwatches. 

What competition concerns did the EU raise about corning?

Earlier on 6 November 2024, the EU Commission extended a formal investigation over concerns that Corning may have deformed competition in the market for Alkali-AS Glass by concluding anticompetitive exclusive supply contracts with mobile phone manufacturers (Original Equipment Manufacturers or ‘OEMs’)  and with businesses that process raw glass (‘finishers’).

How might Corning’s actions reduce customer choice and innovation?

The EU Commission preliminarily figured that Corning is prevalent in the worldwide market for alkali-AS glass. According to the Commission’s preliminary examination, Corning has abused its dominant role in breach of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) by excluding rival Alkali-AS Glass producers from big segments of the market, thereby decreasing customer choice, increasing costs, and stifling innovation to the disadvantage of consumers worldwide.

What steps has Corning taken to address EU concerns?

To settle the Commission’s competition situations, Corning has offered the commitments. The commitments proposed by Corning are applicable worldwide and would remain in force for a period of nine years. Their undertaking will be observed by a monitoring trustee who will note to the Commission for the entire period. Hene, the EU Commission stated that it invites all interested parties to raise their opinions within six weeks of the publication of a summary of the proposed pledges in the EU’s Official Journal.