Antitrust Laws
Critically important but commonly misunderstood, antitrust laws are meant to promote competition and protect consumers. Here’s everything you need to know.
America's antitrust laws protect competition and benefit consumers.
Antitrust laws ensure competition in a free and open market economy, which is the foundation of any vibrant economy. And healthy competition among sellers in an open marketplace gives consumers the benefits of lower prices, higher quality products and services, more choices, and greater innovation.
The core of U.S. antitrust law was created by three pieces of legislation: the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Antitrust Act. These laws have evolved along with the market, vigilantly guarding against anti-competitive harm that arises from abuse of dominance, bid rigging, price fixing, and customer allocation.
America's Antitrust Laws: Explained in 60 Seconds
Video
Antitrust laws ensure competition thrives, providing consumers with lower prices and higher-quality products and services. However, some seek to rewrite these laws and undermine consumer power in the marketplace. Before Congress starts making unnecessary and harmful changes, it’s important to set a few things straight.
Learn More
Sign Up
Sign up to receive the latest news, resources, and event updates related to antitrust.
Latest Content
- Sep 20, 2021Antitrust 101: Key Terms and Definitions Key laws and terms to know about antitrust
- Sep 20, 2021The Role & Responsibility of Antitrust What antitrust is and what it is not
- Sep 20, 2021America’s Antitrust Laws: Myth vs. Facts It's important to understand what current antitrust laws are and are not.
Sep 15, 2021Finance and Financial Regulation Basics for Businesses What small businesses and corporations need to know about financing and financial regulations.
Sep 10, 2021Inside the FTC’s Ploy to Quash A BioTech Merger In Franz Kafka’s The Trial, a man is prosecuted by a remote, inscrutable authority. With the nature of his offense unclear and the court’s jurisdiction ambiguous, the entire process becomes bewildering and interminable. As he navigates a labyrinth of bureaucratic traps, the proceedings themselves “gradually merge into the judgment.” Ultimately, Kafka’s character is deemed guilty, without ever hearing the charges against him or having a chance to defend himself.- Aug 12, 2021Why the FTC is Powerless When it Comes to Competition Rulemaking In 1914, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was created when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Trade Commission Act into law. Since its founding, the FTC has held a unique and multifaceted role in the U.S. administrative state and the economy.
- Jul 29, 2021U.S. Chamber Letter on Antitrust Legislation to the Senate Judiciary Committee This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, on several bills scheduled to be considered during a July 29 hearing.
- Jul 23, 2021U.S. Chamber Letter on EU Merger Regulation This letter was sent to the Director-General for Competition at the European Commission to express the Chamber's serious concerns in relation to the European Commission Guidance on the application of the referral mechanism set out in Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation.
- Jul 12, 2021Coalition Letter on the FTC's Authority This Coalition letter was sent to the Members of the Senate Committee Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the Federal Trade Commission's statutory authority and H.R. 2668, the "Consumer Protection and Recovery Act."