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ARTICLE · 21 JANUARY 2026

Antitrust Agency Insights: Developments At The U.S. Antitrust Enforcement Agencies — Fourth Quarter 2025

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In the last quarter of 2025, the U.S. antitrust agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), renewed their focus on the role that professional associations and licensing boards can play in potentially restricting competition in their industries by controlling licensing and accreditation standards.

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth
Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth
Matthew Tabas
Matthew Tabas
Kyle Angelotti
Kyle Angelotti
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Letter From the Editors

Trade Association and Licensing Board Restrictions: Antitrust Agencies' Renewed Interest

In the last quarter of 2025, the U.S. antitrust agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), renewed their focus on the role that professional associations and licensing boards can play in potentially restricting competition in their industries by controlling licensing and accreditation standards. The DOJ and FTC actions provide a clear reminder that professional and trade associations, and their members, must be mindful of the antitrust laws when they are issuing standards and other programs to ensure the quality of providers in their industries .

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