RILA Joins Leading Trade Associations Advocating for Clearer “Antitrust Safety Zone”

Trade associations play a vital role in representing industry interests, promoting innovation, and enhancing marketplace efficiency. Established case law protects trade associations promoting procompetitive collaboration, but currently there is a lack of federal agency guidance protecting these activities. 

To that end, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) joined a coalition of trade associations in submitting comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), urging the agencies to provide clear guidance and establish guardrails for an antitrust safety zone for trade associations. The comments were in response to the FTC/DOJ notice on Guidance for Business Collaborations. 

This collaborative effort reflects the shared commitment among industry groups to ensure that their activities, such as benchmarking, best practices sharing, and joint advocacy, are conducted in a manner that aligns with antitrust laws and fosters fair competition.

By advocating for a well-defined antitrust safety zone, RILA and its coalition partners seek to empower trade associations to operate confidently and responsibly, without fear of inadvertent violations.

We invite you to read the coalition letter outlining the key recommendations from the industry.

Retail is one of the most competitive industries. RILA remains committed to supporting policies that promote clarity, transparency, and healthy competition. We will continue to work with our partners and regulators to ensure the retail industry thrives under fair and reasonable rules.