Here are some of the developments in antitrust news this past week that we found interesting and are following.

Biden unveils plan to boost competition in U.S. meat industry.  President Biden has announced that the United States will issue new rules and $1 billion in funding this year to support independent meat processors and ranchers as part of a plan to address a lack of “meaningful competition” in the meat sector. The initiative comes amid rising concerns that a handful of big beef, pork and poultry companies have too much control over the American meat market, allowing them to dictate wholesale and retail pricing to profit at the expense of their suppliers and customers. “Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism. It’s exploitation,” Biden said. “That’s what we’re seeing in meat and poultry industries now.”

White House expected to make fresh push to confirm Biden nominees for FTC, FCC.  The White House is expected to make a fresh push as to persuade the U.S. Senate to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees for top posts at agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission, an administration official said. The attempt will involve renewing the nominations for Gigi Sohn at the FCC, Alvaro Bedoya at the FTC and Alan Davidson to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said the official, who did not wish to be named. The nominations, which expired when the December session of Congress ended, will help Senate Democrats move forward with the confirmations.

Edited by Gary J. Malone

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