How have global antitrust laws evolved over time?

Antitrust laws are laws put in place to prevent monopolies, price fixing and other anti-competitive behavior. In the 19th century, the US passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, and other countries around the world followed suit by passing their own antitrust laws. As time has gone on, these laws have continued to evolve, particularly as technology has changed the way businesses function. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice are the main entities responsible for enforcing antitrust laws. One of the major changes that have been implemented over the years is the shift from merely focusing on preventing the formation of monopolies, to also preventing any behavior that could limit competition in the market. At the international level, the European Union has taken the lead in setting antitrust rules since the mid-1990s. International antitrust law has also been impacted by the creation of trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. These agreements help to harmonize antitrust rules across countries, and ensure that companies in different countries do not gain an unfair advantage by engaging in anti-competitive behavior. Finally, the International Competition Network (ICN) has become increasingly important in promoting cooperation between competition authorities around the world. The ICN has created a set of guidelines for antitrust conduct among countries, and encourages dialogue and the sharing of experiences. Overall, antitrust laws have evolved over time to ensure that markets remain competitive, and that businesses are not able to take advantage of their customers by engaging in anti-competitive behaviors. Maryland is no exception to this, and is subject to the same antitrust laws as the rest of the country.

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