Cartel conduct is criminalised under the National Antitrust Law No. 25,156.

The offence

Article 1 of the National Antitrust Law prohibits any actions or practices that have as their effect the limitation, restriction, falsification or distortion of competition or access to the market in a way that may result in damage to the general economic interest. A non-exhaustive list of practices that are prohibited if they have such an effect are is provided in Article 2:

• price fixing;
• quantity fixing;
• horizontal allocation of territories, markets, customers or supply stores;
• bid rigging;
• horizontal agreements to restrict investments; and
• horizontal agreements to restrict research and development.

Sanctions

A fine of between 10,000 pesos and 150 million pesos. There is no possibility of imprisonment.