List the major antitrust acts of the United States
1. Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): This was the first major antitrust law in the United States. It prohibits certain business activities that restrain trade and monopolize commerce, such as price fixing and collusion.
2. Clayton Antitrust Act (1914): This act further strengthened the Sherman Act and addressed specific concerns like mergers and acquisitions that result in reduced competition. It also prohibited certain forms of unfair business practices.
3. Federal Trade Commission Act (1914): This act established the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an independent agency that is responsible for enforcing antitrust laws. The FTC investigates and monitors business practices to ensure fair competition.
4. Robinson-Patman Act (1936): This act addressed the issue of price discrimination by prohibiting certain practices that give preferential treatment to certain buyers, thereby reducing competition.
5. Cellar-Kefauver Act (1950): This act closed a loophole in the Clayton Act by preventing anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions that do not involve stock transfers.
6. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (1976): This act requires certain companies to notify the FTC and the Department of Justice about large mergers and acquisitions before they can take place. It aims to prevent potential antitrust issues before they occur.
7. Sherman Antitrust Act Amendments (1980): These amendments clarified and expanded the scope of the Sherman Act to modernize antitrust regulations in the face of changing business practices.
8. Antitrust Modernization Commission Act (2002): This act established the Antitrust Modernization Commission, an independent organization that was tasked with reviewing and recommending changes to antitrust laws and regulations.
9. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010): Although primarily focused on financial regulation, this act included provisions related to antitrust enforcement, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions in the financial industry.
These are some of the major antitrust acts in the United States, but they are not an exhaustive list. Other regulations and acts have been passed to address specific issues and sectors within the economy.