U.S. senator introduces new meatpacking antitrust bill
U.S. senator introduces new meatpacking antitrust bill
By Chris Scott on 9/19/2023
New legislation designed to “break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies” operating in the United States is being proposed by a U.S. senator from Missouri whose state recently was scheduled to lose more than 2,000 poultry plant jobs.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said the Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act followed a Tyson Foods announcement that it planned to close its poultry plants in southern Missouri, affecting thousands of workers. The proposed bill would amend the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to set up “specific thresholds for market concentration and allow federal antitrust officials to more effectively prohibit or unwind acquisitions by meat companies that “concentrate the meatpacking sector."
"Today’s meatpacking monopolists are making massive profits while shutting down competition," Sen. Hawley said in a statement announcing the bill."Congress must give antitrust prosecutors the power to end anti-competitive behavior without lengthy court battles. It’s time to hold monopolies accountable and empower farmers."