On May 14, Uber Eats announced its acquisition of Foodpanda's delivery business in Taiwan and submitted documents to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). According to prior investigations by the FTC, a merger of the two delivery platforms could result in a market share exceeding 80%. This concentration could constitute a monopoly or oligopoly under the Fair Trade Act. However, the FTC has previously emphasized that this does not necessarily equate to a violation, nor imply that the merger is automatically prohibited. Further assessment is needed to determine whether such market power could be abused to restrict or hinder competition, potentially preventing new entrants.
FTC Chairperson Lee May (李鎂) confirmed on Friday that the request for additional documentation from Uber Eats was fulfilled on November 8, with the review potentially concluding by December 19. If more time is needed, the FTC could legally extend the review by up to 60 days, which would push a final decision to March. Li added that before a decision is finalized, the FTC may ask the parties involved to attend a hearing or submit a written statement. She emphasized that major merger cases often take a longer time for a thorough review.