Department of Justice Opinion Letter

The Department of Justice supports the main purpose of these bills, that is, expeditious exposure of, and effective opposition to, secret cartel arrangements supported by foreign governments that cause direct injury in U. S. commerce. The Department of Justice also welcomes support for accelerated efforts toward international resolution of restrictive anticompetitive business practices. However, the Department, for the reasons stated above, recommends against enactment of H.R. 13921 and H.R. 13922 in their present forms. We do believe the continued exploration and discussion of the need for enactment of a reporting requirement for foreign, governmentally-involved, cartels would be worthwhile.

We have also noted the possible desirability of a Congressional resolution favoring negotiation of international antitrust rules. The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program.