EU files antitrust charges against Amazon

The European Union’s antitrust watchdog leveled new charges against Amazon on Tuesday over the company’s treatment of third-party sellers. 

The European Commission accused the online retail giant of relying on non-public business data of independent sellers — such number of orders shipped and seller’s past performance — to benefit its own business. 

Amazon’s “dual role” as a platform that allows independent sellers to sell products and as a retailer itself is at the root of the issue, the commission said. 

It also opened a second antitrust investigation into preferential treatment of Amazon’s retail offers and those of marketplace sellers that use the site’s logistics and delivery services.