Antitrust & Competition Policy

Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust in the U.S. Department of Justice, Thomas O. Barnett, said the U.S. was worried that the decision on Microsoft issued September 17 by the European Union's Court of First Instance could "have the unfortunate consequence of harming consumers by chilling innovation and discouraging competition." However, Barnett affirmed that the Justice Department nevertheless "looks forward to continuing its wide-ranging and positive relationship with the EC on antitrust matters, including matters affected by today’s decision. This cooperation is particularly important given the global nature of many markets, including in the high technology sector. The Justice Department will work with the EC to develop sound antitrust enforcement policies that benefit consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.”

2007: U.S. Department of Justice: European Microsoft Decision Could Discourage Competition (Sep 17, 2007) | FTC's Majoras on National Champions: I Don't Even Think It Sounds Good (Mar 26, 2007)

2006: Antitrust Official Urges International Cooperation on Cartels (Jun 5, 2006) | Belgian, Dutch Companies Agree to Plead Guilty to Chemical Industry Price-Fixing Conspiracies (Mar 14, 2006)

2005: Code Sharing Instead of Antitrust Waiver Proposed for Air Alliance (Dec 23, 2005) | FTC's Blumenthal in Brussels: The Status of Convergence on Transatlantic Merger Policy (Oct 27, 2005) | FTC's Majoras on Health Care, Financial Services Markets (Sep 15, 2005) | Merger Regulation Practices Endorsed at International Meeting (Jun 8, 2005) | FTC's Majoras: U.S. Antitrust Policy and European Business (Apr 7, 2005)

U.S. Assistant Attorney General R. Hewitt Pate spoke at a U.S.-European Union conference in Brussels on June 7, 2004, presenting an overview of areas of convergence and divergence in transatlantic approaches to antitrust issues. Pate had special praise for "the impressive and important record of achievements" during the tenure of EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, which he described as "unquestionably changes of lasting significance." He specifically noted Monti's efforts to decentralize European antitrust enforcement regimes, which he said have led to improved EU-U.S. coordination in anti-cartel enforcement and merger control and to more transparent and democratic competition policy.

2004: Supreme Court Limits Reach of Antitrust Law Outside U.S., (Jun 15, 2004) | U.S., EU Approaches to Antitrust Issues -- 17 Years Out (Jun 8, 2004) | Dept. of Justice's Pate on "Antitrust in a Transatlantic Context," (Jun 7, 2004) | Video of Pate/Monti conference and press event (Jun 7, 2004) | Antitrust Officials Adopt Merger Notification Recommendations (Apr 26, 2004) | Antitrust Cooperation to Continue with EU after Microsoft Fine (Mar 25, 2004) | DOJ: Cooperation with EU on Antitrust Issues Will Continue (Mar 19, 2004)