Trade Competition in the United States

Bureau of Competition

The FTC’s antitrust responsibilities involve prevention of anti-competitive mergers and business practices. Some of the acts that the bureau enforces include the following:

• The Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits unfair methods of competition.
• The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890), which outlawed all contracts and agreements that would limit trade or competition in interstate commerce. It also prevents one company from undercharging for an item or service in order to put the competition out of business. This practice is known as predatory pricing.
• The Clayton Antitrust Act (1914), which reduced loopholes in the Sherman Antitrust Act and covered mergers and acquisitions.
• The Hart-Scott-Rodino Amendment to the Clayton Act (1976), which requires companies to notify antitrust agencies before planning a merger.
• The Robinson-Patman Act (1936), which prohibits price discrimination.

Distribution laws also fall under the FTC’s jurisdiction. Several states have similar laws, which may be challenged in the future, especially with the growth of the Internet and e-commerce.

Another example of distribution law is the sale of tobacco products to minors. It is illegal to sell tobacco products or distribute samples to underage customers. On July 1, 2004, a new state law went into effect that requires California retailers to obtain a state license to sell tobacco products. Retailers that do not comply are subject to fines and may even be arrested.

Antitrust laws and Protection from Unfair Import Competition

Find more information on Antitrust laws and Protection from Unfair Import Competition in relation to the Unfair Trade and Import Competition Regulation in the legal Encyclopedias.

Trade Competition and the International Trade Law

Common-law remedies

Find more information on Common-law remedies in relation to the Unfair Trade and Import Competition Regulation in the legal Encyclopedias.

Patent, copyright, and trademark laws

Find more information on Patent, copyright, and trademark laws in relation to the Unfair Trade and Import Competition Regulation in the legal Encyclopedias.

The Exon-Florio provision

Find more information on the Exon-Florio provision in relation to the Unfair Trade and Import Competition Regulation in the legal Encyclopedias.

Resources

See Also

Further Reading

• Trade Competition entry in the Dictionary of International Trade Law (Raj Bhala)
• Trade Competition entry in the Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History (Thomas Carson; Mary Bonk)
• Trade Competition entry in the Dictionary of International Trade
• Trade Competition entry in the Dictionary of International Trade: Handbook of the Global Trade Community (Edward G. Hinkelman)