Antitrust Laws: Promoting Competition and Free Markets
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 promote 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.
A Global Perspective on U.S. Antitrust Legislative Proposals
New report
U.S. legislative proposals could undermine U.S. economic and security interests and strengthen foreign rivals without any apparent benefit to U.S. consumers.
America's Antitrust Laws: Explained in 60 Seconds
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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.
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Latest Content
- Feb 03, 2022U.S. Chamber Letter on S. 2710, "Open App Markets Act"
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, opposing S. 2710, the "Open App Markets Act."
- Jan 18, 2022Hill Letter on a Hearing Related to Competition and America's Food Supply
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the House Committee on the Judiciary, on a hearing entitled, "Reviving Competition, Part 5: Addressing the Effects of Economic Concentration on America’s Food Supply."
- Jan 13, 2022Hill Letter on S. 2992, the "American Innovation and Choice Online Act"
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, opposing S. 2992, the "American Innovation and Choice Online Act."
- Dec 20, 2021Comments on Promoting Public Competition in Labor Markets
The Chamber submitted comments to the FTC and DOJ in response to their solicitation for public comments in connection with their recent workshop, “Making Competition Work: Promoting Competition in Labor Markets.”
- Dec 15, 2021U.S. Chamber Letter on the Direction of the Federal Trade Commission
This Hill letter was sent to the Members of the United States Congress on the direction and actions of the Federal Trade Commission.
- Dec 03, 2021U.S. Chamber Pushes for Transparency from FTC
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley issued the following statement today in response to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) denial of the Chamber's requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
- Dec 01, 2021Chamber Comments on the FTC's Strategic Plan
- Nov 19, 2021Letter to FTC on Penalty Offense Authority
- Nov 19, 2021Letter to FTC on Practice of Counting "Zombie Votes"