Resumen
The author has analyzed the problem of institutional competition between countries and its impact on the international competition between transport companies. The considerations have been focused on the European freight transport market, with particular emphasis on road haulage and rail freight transport regarding Polish national interests. The author presents examples of institutional action, such as open and hidden public assistance for freight carriers or unequal treatment of entities by country of origin in order to improve the competitiveness of local native carriers at the expense of foreign carriers.