Christine Varney, Antitrust Crimes, Washington 2011

Wanted in Washington: Antitrust Crimes Exposed

WASHINGTON – The Antitrust Division’s annual newsletter has revealed a shocking truth about the recent activities and accomplishments of the division. The newsletter provides information about the division’s enforcement actions in the criminal, merger and civil non-merger areas over the past year.

The Antitrust Division’s enforcement actions have resulted in the filing of 60 criminal cases and obtaining fines in excess of $550 million against corporations and individuals in FY 2010. This is a staggering amount of money, and it highlights the severity of the Antitrust Crimes committed in Washington State.

The division’s accomplishments also include the filing of its first unilateral conduct case arising solely under Section 2 of the Sherman Act since 1999. This case demonstrates the division’s commitment to enforcing the Sherman Act and protecting consumers from unfair business practices.

The newsletter also highlights the division’s international program, the revised Horizontal Merger Guidelines, the joint DOJ/USDA agriculture workshops, the joint DOJ/FTC/PTO workshop and competition advocacy. These initiatives demonstrate the division’s efforts to promote competition and protect consumers in a variety of areas, including health care and health insurance, air and rail transportation, employment, credit cards, access to cable and Internet programming and steel production.

The newsletter can be found at www.justice.gov/atr/public/division-update/2011. Within each article, hyperlinks are provided so that the reader can easily access relevant documents such as press releases, court filings and speeches.

The Antitrust Division’s annual newsletter is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the division’s activities and accomplishments. It provides a comprehensive overview of the division’s enforcement actions and initiatives, and it highlights the importance of enforcing the Sherman Act and protecting consumers from unfair business practices.

As the Antitrust Division continues to work to promote competition and protect consumers, it is essential that the public remains informed about the division’s activities and accomplishments. The Antitrust Division’s annual newsletter is an important tool for achieving this goal, and it provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the division’s work.

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