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Trump Orders DOJ and FTC Task Forces To Probe Food Price-Fixing, Citing Consumer and National Security Risks

10:28 AM, 12/07/2025
Trump Orders DOJ and FTC Task Forces To Probe Food Price-Fixing, Citing Consumer and National Security Risks

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to form task forces to investigate food supply-chain risks, including price-fixing and other anti-competitive conduct. The order highlights particular scrutiny of foreign-controlled companies and potential national security implications. It gives the Attorney General and the FTC chair authority to pursue enforcement actions and propose regulatory changes if investigations find wrongdoing. The White House announced the move on Dec. 6.

Trump Signs Executive Order Creating Food Supply-Chain Task Forces

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish dedicated task forces focused on food supply chain security. The White House said the teams will investigate risks such as price fixing and other anti-competitive conduct that could raise costs for consumers and threaten food system resilience.

The order emphasizes scrutiny of foreign-controlled companies, saying the administration will evaluate whether such behavior "increases the cost of living for Americans and address any associated national security threat to food supply chains."

Scope and authority: Under the order, the Attorney General and the FTC chairman are authorized to open investigations, bring enforcement actions and recommend new regulatory or enforcement approaches if they uncover anti-competitive practices. The task forces will coordinate across agencies to identify vulnerabilities in the food supply chain and pursue legal or policy responses where warranted.

"My Administration will act to determine whether anti-competitive behavior, especially by foreign-controlled companies, increases the cost of living for Americans and address any associated national security threat to food supply chains," the order says.

Officials said the move is intended to protect consumers from higher prices and to guard against potential national security risks tied to the food supply. The order signals heightened federal attention to antitrust issues in food production, distribution and retailing.

Reporting by Nandita Bose and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama

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Trump Orders DOJ and FTC Task Forces To Probe Food Price-Fixing, Citing Consumer and National Security Risks - CRBC News