cartel

A cartel is a group of independent corporations or other entities that join together to fix prices , rig bids , allocate markets, or conduct other similar illegal activities. Cartel conduct is mainly subject to criminal penalties under United States antitrust laws , although some cartel conduct,such as monopolization , resale price maintenance, etc. are subject to civil penalties .

The Sherman Act and Clayton Acts are the two main laws regulating cartels. Although the Sherman Act set the maximum corporate fine as $100 million, there were 32 fines over this amount in the past decade (not include the ones that are just at $100 million). The Department of Justice (DOJ) relies on 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d) when seeking to impose higher fines. For example, DOJ has successfully obtained a fine of $500 million against F. Hoffman-La Roche for its price-rigging conduct in an international vitamin cartel.

See e.g., In re London Silver Fixing, Ltd . 213 F. Supp. 3d 530 (S.D.N.Y. 2016)

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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