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ARTICLE · 11 FEBRUARY 2026

Oil & Gas In 2026: Antitrust & Competition

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In the U.S., new Federal Trade Commission chair Andrew Ferguson took office in January 2025, promising a more permissive approach to merger approvals that was broadly welcomed by oil & gas companies eager to do deals.

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Davina Garrod
Davina Garrod
Brian Rafkin
Brian Rafkin
Dennis S. Schmelzer
Dennis S. Schmelzer
Charles Tay
Charles Tay
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A More Deal-Friendly Approach Signaled Globally

This article is part of the "Oil & Gas in 2026: Emerging Trends & Predictions" report. For the full report, click here.

All Change at the FTC

In the U.S., new Federal Trade Commission chair Andrew Ferguson took office in January 2025, promising a more permissive approach to merger approvals that was broadly welcomed by oil & gas companies eager to do deals.

  • Reduced Scrutiny of Energy Transactions: Upon entering the White House, President Trump indicated his intention to be a positive force for oil & gas transactions after the previous administration increased challenges to horizontal mergers of E&P companies. Chair Ferguson has indicated that he will be more deal friendly, with a focus on anti-competitive behavior and protecting American workers while emphasizing the need for structural remedies like divestitures rather than behavioral fixes. The best evidence of a change in policy may be the dramatically

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