Overseas Supplier and Competition Laws

[RegMolehusband]

Would you say an overseas manufacturer is operating illegally when they ask us to increase our prices on their products to match those of their only other retailer in the UK?

The same level of competition laws don't exist in their country. Does an overseas company have to comply with EU competition laws? I can't find any mention of this situation in the legislation.

[StevieBee]

It's been a fair few years since I completed my International Marketing module for my DipM but from memory, I believe that if you are acting as a local distributor for an overseas supplier then they are within their rights to set the selling price locally. That's why you rarely find one Mac store selling a Mac for less than any others.

If you are simply buying their product and selling on then it's up to you what you sell them for and they have no right to demand a price be set.

It may well be that it is prudent to cede to their request but there is nothing stopping you adding an 'offer' (a 'free' something) to what you sell to keep you competitive.