A bottle of laundry detergent in one EU member state can often cost significantly more than the exact same product just a few miles across a national border. This price gap isn’t always down to taxes or transport costs; often, it is the result of “territorial supply constraints”—a practice where large manufacturers intentionally block retailers from sourcing cheaper goods from other EU countries. On March 5, 2026, the European Commission took a decisive step toward ending this practice by launching a formal call for evidence to dismantle these invisible trade barriers.
These constraints occur when a dominant supplier prevents a wholesaler or supermarket chain from buying inventory in a lower-priced market to resell it in a higher-priced one. By forcing retailers to buy locally at a premium, manufacturers effectively partition the European market, depriving consumers of the variety and competitive pricing that the Single Market was built to provide.
The urgency of this move stems from the Single Market Strategy adopted in May 2025 (Territorial Supply Constraints (TSCs) ). In that document, the Commission labeled these supply restrictions as one of the “Terrible Ten”—the most damaging obstacles currently preventing the smooth flow of trade across the continent. While some of these practices are already covered by antitrust laws, many fall into a legal gray area where traditional competition rules struggle to apply.
The Commission’s new goal is to develop specific tools and measures that can stop these “unjustified” restrictions even when they don’t strictly violate existing competition law. The focus is on ensuring that the four fundamental freedoms of the EU—the movement of goods, services, people, and capital—are not undermined by private corporate policies.
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is now looking for cold, hard facts from the people on the front lines. The call for evidence is open to a wide range of stakeholders, including national authorities, businesses, consumer advocacy groups, and academia. By gathering real-world examples of how these supply barriers impact everyday commerce, the Commission hopes to build a robust framework for upcoming legislative action.
Stakeholders have a limited time to make their voices heard. Once the call is published in all official EU languages, it will remain open for just four weeks. Contributions are being collected via the “Have Your Say” portal, providing a direct channel for those affected by these restrictions to influence the future of European trade policy. For the average consumer, this initiative represents a significant push toward a more transparent and affordable marketplace, where a passport no longer determines the price of a grocery bill.