The US Department of Justice Antitrust Division and Federal
Trade Commission issued a joint statement on Tuesday, March 24, making
clear to the public that “firms, including competitors, can
engage in procompetitive collaboration that does not violate the
antitrust laws,” to address the public health and safety
risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The agencies also
committed to expedite antitrust review of certain such coronavirus
collaborations.
As the statement explains, the agencies recognize the response
to COVID-19 “will require unprecedented cooperation…
to protect Americans’ health and safety,” and their
reviews will “account for exigent circumstances in evaluating
efforts to address the spread of COVID-19 and its
aftermath.”
