Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 11 NOVEMBER 2026

What Does The Blue Wave Mean For Antitrust Enforcement?

Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Contributor
Steptoe LLP

Steptoe LLP

Steptoe International (UK) LLP has built a strong reputation for providing top-quality regulatory,...

View firm profile
Explore more from Steptoe LLP

The recent mid-term elections have shifted the political landscape, raising questions about how a Democratic-controlled Congress will interact with Trump Administration antitrust enforcers. From pending FTC and DOJ nominations to the potential for parallel Congressional investigations and emboldened state attorneys general, the enforcement environment faces significant uncertainty. Will Democratic oversight reshape merger reviews, consumer protection priorities, and the broader competitive landscape?

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Michael L. Weiner
Michael L. Weiner
Lee F. Berger
Lee F. Berger
John J. Kavanagh
John J. Kavanagh

Last week's mid-term election results are likely to have significant implications for the future of our country.

What's less than fully clear is the effect of the mid-terms on antitrust enforcement. Here are our thoughts on what's likely to happen:

  • Appointments. President Trump recently nominated to serve as an Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Chris Mufarrige, the current Director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection who served in the first Trump Administration as Senior Adviser to the Director and Deputy Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And President Trump's nomination of Adam Candeub, currently General Counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, to serve as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division has been pending before the Senate, following a strict party-line vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 24 to advance his nomination.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Right To Repair Alert: Deere & Company Reaches Settlement With FTC, States

The Federal Trade Commission and five State Attorneys General have reached a landmark settlement with Deere & Company in a year-and-a-half antitrust litigation over the agricultural equipment manufacturer's restrictions on repair resources. The stipulated order, if approved, will require Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers with the same repair tools and technical resources available to authorized dealers for a period of ten years.
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Axinn LLP
Axinn LLP
Article

New York-Presbyterian Hospital Ruling Signals Widening Antitrust Exposure For Hospital Contracting Practices

A federal court ruling against New York Presbyterian Hospital validates DOJ theories that market power can be proven through supracompetitive pricing rather than market share alone, and that exclusionary conduct is not required for antitrust claims. This decision expands potential antitrust exposure for hospital systems employing restrictive contracting practices like all-products provisions, anti-tiering terms, and gag clauses...
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP
Article

Booking Holdings v. Commission: General Court Clears The Way For Reverse Leveraging

The General Court of the European Union has upheld the European Commission's prohibition of Booking Holdings' acquisition of eTraveli Group, endorsing for the first time a 'reverse leveraging' theory of harm in conglomerate mergers. This landmark judgment establishes that dominant companies can be blocked from acquiring complementary businesses even when the target operates in a market where the acquirer lacks dominance, fundamentally reshaping merger control enforcement in digital and ecosystem-driven mark
United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Article

FCC Tightens Equipment Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted sweeping new restrictions targeting equipment containing components from entities on its Covered List, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers, online marketplaces, and equipment modifiers must approach FCC compliance. These rules establish unprecedented prohibitions on logic-bearing hardware components, impose strict display requirements for e-commerce platforms, and clarify when existing authorizations can support equipment modifications.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

Sanctions Update: October 26, 2026

This comprehensive sanctions update examines the US Department of Homeland Security's exclusion order on DeepSeek AI products across federal agencies, exploring implications for US-China tech competition and potential escalation in AI controls. The analysis covers recent international sanctions developments including Iran's shadow fleet network, intellectual property theft enforcement, and evolving regulatory measures across US, EU, and Asia-Pacific jurisdictions.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

The Analysts' Brief: The US-Russia Diesel Deal

The Trump administration's October 2025 diesel deal with Russia promises temporary sanctions relief to ease US fuel prices before midterm elections, but analysts question whether the limited supply will meaningfully impact global markets or represent a lasting shift in US-Russia relations. The agreement has already strained transatlantic partnerships and US-Ukraine cooperation while raising compliance uncertainties for businesses navigating evolving sanctions regimes.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 14, 2026

The Treasury Department intensifies economic pressure on Iran through Operation Economic Outcast, suspending aviation licenses and sanctioning dozens of entities while implementing a presumption of denial for Iran-related transactions. Meanwhile, new enforcement actions target Chinese cybercrime platforms, Ecuadorian terrorist organizations, and Israeli settlers, as Congress considers comprehensive Russia-Iran sanctions legislation.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 21, 2026

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has become law, imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and shadow fleet vessels while authorizing tariffs up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas. How will these new measures impact global trade relationships, particularly with China and India as the largest buyers of Russian crude?
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP