BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s federal cartel authority will get expanded powers to crack down on anti-competitive practices found in its assessments on entire sectors, plans released by the economy ministry showed on Monday. Such assessments are to last a maximum of 18 months, after which there will be a further 18-month period for potential counter-measures, the ministry said. The Federal Cartel Office would have the power to break up industry groups as a last resort under the proposal, which is to be put to an internal government vote soon, the ministry added. The office is conducting an asse…