Mexico's COFECE Targets Six Sectors for Heightened Antitrust Scrutiny
Multinationals operating in Mexico's priority sectors should reassess compliance and deal strategies as COFECE prepares for aggressive enforcement.
Mexico's Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) has identified six strategic markets where it plans to intensify antitrust oversight, signaling a shift toward more proactive and aggressive enforcement. The move reflects the agency's broader mandate to tackle concentration, anti-competitive practices, and barriers to entry in sectors deemed critical to the Mexican economy. Companies with operations, joint ventures, or pending transactions in these markets should expect closer scrutiny of pricing, distribution arrangements, exclusivity clauses, and M&A filings. In-house counsel should conduct internal antitrust audits, review existing agreements for compliance gaps, and factor longer review timelines into transaction planning. Early engagement with counsel and proactive remediation can reduce exposure to investigations, fines, and remedies.