President Joe Biden is set to launch a new task force aimed at tackling what he deems to be “unfair and illegal” corporate pricing practices. This initiative comes as a response to the disconnect between cooling inflation rates and a robust economy, with consumers not reaping the benefits. The task force will be jointly led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice, signaling a significant effort by the Biden administration to reign in corporate power.
FTC Chair Lina Khan expressed enthusiasm about co-chairing the new Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing. This effort builds on the FTC’s existing work to promote competition and combat illicit business practices that raise costs for Americans. Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter will join Khan in leading the strike force, emphasizing the Justice Department’s commitment to challenging powerful corporations for the betterment of American families.
President Biden will convene the sixth formal meeting of the White House Competition Council, a group comprising top officials from various agencies tasked with identifying and addressing anti-competitive behavior across industries. With supply chains stabilizing and inflation decreasing, National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard highlighted the failure of some corporations to pass on cost savings to consumers, prompting Biden to take action against unfair pricing practices.
Ahead of the council meeting, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to issue a final rule aimed at reducing credit card late fees, while the Agriculture Department will release protections for farmers against discriminatory processing practices. These initiatives are in line with Biden’s ongoing efforts to combat unfair corporate pricing practices that negatively impact consumers. Despite notable progress in lowering costs for essential goods and services, questions remain about the extent of regulators’ legal authority to address aggressive pricing strategies used by certain companies.
President Biden has highlighted instances of “price gouging” and “shrinkflation” as tactics employed by corporations to maintain high profits, even as input costs decline. However, even as the economy shows signs of improvement, Biden continues to face criticism for the rising cost of living post-pandemic. Recent polls suggest a growing sense of economic optimism among respondents, yet Biden still trails his potential November opponent, former President Donald Trump, in theoretical election matchups.
The establishment of a task force to combat unfair corporate pricing is a significant step towards ensuring a more competitive and consumer-friendly marketplace. While the Biden administration’s efforts are commendable, ongoing challenges and criticisms underscore the complexity of addressing deeply ingrained pricing practices in the corporate world. It remains to be seen how effective these initiatives will be in curbing unfair pricing practices and delivering tangible benefits to American consumers.
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