What antitrust laws are specific to the US?

Antitrust laws in the United States are designed to protect consumers from anti-competitive business practices, such as price fixing andpredatory pricing. The main pieces of federal legislation that make up the US antitrust laws are the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act of 1914.The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first major piece of federal legislation to be passed prohibiting monopolies within the United States. This act prohibits any agreements or practices among competing businesses that limit free trade and competition.The Clayton Antitrust Act, which was passed shortly after the Sherman Act, was passed to supplement the Sherman Act and to address issues that the Sherman Act did not cover. This act prohibits mergers, acquisitions, and interlocking directorates (when two businesses have the same directors) that would result in a monopoly or restraint of trade. Additionally, it prohibits companies from offering rebates and from discriminating against certain buyers or sellers. Lastly, the FTC Act of 1914 was passed to create a federal agency to enforce laws that prohibit unfair trade practices. In addition to the federal antitrust laws, states also have their own antitrust legislation. In California, the Cartwright Act of 1887 and the Unfair Practices Act of 1939 are the two main pieces of state legislation that protect consumers from anti-competitive practices. The Cartwright Act prohibits similar unfair practices that the Sherman Act prohibits, like price-fixing and bid-rigging. The Unfair Practices Act, meanwhile, applies to both sellers and buyers, and it bans practices such as unconscionable prices, false advertising, and exclusive dealing arrangements.

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