KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) appears to have suffered yet another setback in its high-profile dispute with TW Metals Limited, after the Supreme Court ordered that its controversial report into the local rebar market be put on hold pending appeal.

High-level sources confirmed that the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court, presided over by Mr Justice Batts, granted injunctive relief in favour of Tank-Weld on April 28, effectively preventing the FTC from acting on or further advancing its findings against the company until the appeal is determined.

The FTC report had alleged that Tank-Weld abused its dominant position in the reinforcing steel bar (rebar) market by allegedly selling below cost, following complaints from competitor ARC Manufacturing Limited.

However, under the court order, the FTC’s decision “shall not be acted upon” by either the FTC or ARC Manufacturing pending the outcome of the appeal. The court also stayed all subsequent or contemplated proceedings arising from that decision and restrained both parties from disseminating or publishing the report.

The order further warned that failure to comply could expose FTC Executive Director David Miller and others to contempt of court proceedings.

Legal observers say the ruling represents a significant interim victory for Tank-Weld and raises fresh questions about the strength of the FTC’s case and the broader handling of the matter.

Tank-Weld has consistently maintained that the FTC’s findings were based on defective data, serious calculation errors and a process that denied the company basic fairness.

The company has vowed to vigorously challenge the report in the Supreme Court, arguing that its long-standing low-price model reflects efficiency and consumer benefit rather than anti-competitive conduct.

The dispute has triggered wider national debate, with several economists and private sector voices questioning whether a company should be penalised for keeping prices low in an open and competitive market.