As businesses across the globe grapple with the changing realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. and international antitrust enforcers have warned that business should continue to mind the antitrust laws. Global enforcers are also focusing on the role competition laws play as industries – both essential and hard-hit – grapple with the new environment.

On March 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced its intention to continue to hold businesses accountable for per se criminal violations of antitrust laws during the Coronavirus outbreak. On the supply chain and consumer-facing side, for example, DOJ vowed to prosecute “[i]ndividuals or companies that fix prices or rig bids for personal health protection equipment such as sterile gloves and face masks.” DOJ also warned that “competitors who agree to allocate among themselves consumers of public health products could also be prosecuted.” In a departure from typical practice, DOJ’s announcement also included a call to action — inviting potential whistleblowers and would-be informants to come forward with information concerning price-fixing, bid-rigging, or market allocation schemes during the Coronavirus outbreak. DOJ’s public warning is the latest directive in furtherance of its recent formation of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force—an interagency partnership of the Antitrust Division, federal attorneys general, the FBI, OIG, Department of Defense, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General – focused on deterring, investigating, and detecting bid rigging and other schemes in the context of government procurement.

Whereas DOJ’s recent pronouncements reflect a focus on investigating traditional violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) took swift action in furtherance of its consumer protection mission. In February 2020, the FTC issued guidance to consumers for detecting and avoiding Coronavirus-related scams. On March 9, 2020, the FTC announced that, in a joint effort with the FDA, it had issued warning letters to seven sellers of sham products that falsely claimed they could treat or prevent Coronavirus. In addition to outlining the various violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. § 355(a), the letters warned that such false claims were unlawful under the FTC Act absent appropriate substantiation and scientific testing. Offending products included lozenges that supposedly “killed” the Coronavirus, frankincense that “decreased” risk of infection, and essential oils that “protected” against Coronavirus. In addition to sending the specific warning letters, the FTC more broadly warned businesses that any claims relating to Coronavirus will be subject to “exacting scrutiny” and the FTC will take a close look at myriad methods that companies can suggest or imply claims to consumers, including through URLs, hashtags, and suggestively named products.

Outside of the U.S., various international governments and authorities have temporarily relaxed certain competition law provisions to facilitate the provision of essential services. By way of example, large grocery chains in the United Kingdom will be allowed to exchange data on stock levels, share warehouse space and delivery vans, and team up to serve consumers in this time of crisis, after the UK government temporarily relaxed elements of UK competition law. The European Commission has also relaxed state aid rules to allow for exceptional support from member state governments to relevant sectors and businesses impacted by the virus or otherwise providing essential services to combat its spread. Despite the exceptional circumstances, international competition authorities have made clear, however, that the current situation does not provide immunity to businesses from competition/antitrust law infringements, including unlawful collusion, information exchange and/or excessive pricing, even if the relevant government encourages competitors to cooperate for COVID-related purposes.

The recent announcements and activity from the DOJ, FTC, and other global competition enforcers serve as a reminder to businesses that antitrust regulators will apply increased scrutiny to conduct during times of crisis. Companies, particularly those in the health care space, should keep antitrust policies current and closely monitor bidding, pricing, and any issues bearing on market allocation. These concerns are particularly heightened where competitors may be engaging in joint ventures, information sharing arrangements, collective government petitioning, or other collective action designed at responding to the Coronavirus crisis. In addition, consumer-facing companies must continue to ensure that products marketed, particularly those on social media, are not interpreted as implying false or misleading claims to customers.

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Visit Proskauer on Price Gouging for antitrust insights on Covid-19.

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Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns. Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations

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Photo of Christopher E. Ondeck Christopher E. Ondeck

Chris Ondeck is co-chair of the Firm’s Antitrust Group and co-head of the Washington DC office. He represents clients in complex antitrust and consumer protection litigation, defends mergers and acquisitions before the U.S. antitrust agencies, represents companies involved in government investigations, and counsels…

Chris Ondeck is co-chair of the Firm’s Antitrust Group and co-head of the Washington DC office. He represents clients in complex antitrust and consumer protection litigation, defends mergers and acquisitions before the U.S. antitrust agencies, represents companies involved in government investigations, and counsels on antitrust compliance. Chris is also the founder and leader of the firm’s Price Gouging Practice, and is one of the key thought leaders in this space.

Chris handles antitrust matters for clients in a number of industries, including food and agriculture, financial services, media, telecom, technology, e-commerce, consumer products, natural resources, oil and gas, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.  He also serves as outside counsel to a large number of industry groups, including trade associations and cooperatives.

Chris has been recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner by Chambers, noting that clients describe him as “our primary thought partner – he’s very good at explaining the complex issues and making them easy to understand” and praising “his strong advocacy skills”; by The National Law Review as a “Go To Thought Leader 2020”; by Acritas as a “Star” in multiple years; by Benchmark Litigation as a National Litigation Star 2021; and by The Legal 500 United States for Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions.

Photo of Colin Kass Colin Kass

Colin Kass is a partner in the Litigation Department and co-chair of the Antitrust Group, and a member of the Firm’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team. An experienced antitrust and commercial litigation lawyer, Colin has litigated cases before federal and state courts throughout…

Colin Kass is a partner in the Litigation Department and co-chair of the Antitrust Group, and a member of the Firm’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team. An experienced antitrust and commercial litigation lawyer, Colin has litigated cases before federal and state courts throughout the United States and before administrative agencies. His practice involves a wide range of industries and spans the full-range of antitrust and unfair competition-related litigation, including class actions, competitor suits, dealer/distributor termination suits, price discrimination cases, criminal price-fixing investigations, and merger injunctions.

Colin also has extensive experience dealing with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice in obtaining clearance for competitively-sensitive transactions and handling anticompetitive practices investigations. His practice also includes counseling clients on their sales, distribution, and marketing practices, strategic ventures, and general antitrust compliance.

Photo of Stephen R. Chuk Stephen R. Chuk

Stephen Chuk is a senior counsel in Proskauer’s Antitrust and Sports Groups. He advises companies in complex multidistrict litigation, cartel cases, and compliance matters. Stephen also counsels individuals and corporate clients facing criminal and regulatory investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal…

Stephen Chuk is a senior counsel in Proskauer’s Antitrust and Sports Groups. He advises companies in complex multidistrict litigation, cartel cases, and compliance matters. Stephen also counsels individuals and corporate clients facing criminal and regulatory investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general.

Stephen has extensive experience advising on antitrust matters involving alleged claims of price fixing, monopolization, group boycott, and bid rigging across a wide range of industries, including fintech, sports, agriculture, and health care.   In addition, he advises on consumer protection matters involving marketing practices and false advertising.