Global cartel fine totals rebounded somewhat in 2019, approaching historical norms following two years of sharply lower fine levels.

The $6.1 billion total is the highest global fine level since 2016. Most of the increased fines came out of Europe, which accounted for more than three-quarters of the fines issued globally. Fines in the United States were slightly higher than in 2018, but still substantially below historical norms. The rest of the Americas region also imposed lower fines in 2019 than in 2018, though some jurisdictions—and Colombia in particular—were more active in 2019. Fines in Asia were higher in 2019, with most of the increase resulting from a few very large fines imposed in Japan. Africa showed the opposite: sharply lower fines in 2019, resulting primarily to the absence of a blockbuster fine in any African jurisdiction.