Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. senators, led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, unveiled new legislation aimed at reforming federal antitrust laws. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act would prohibit large tech companies from engaging in common industry-wide retail practices such as self-preferencing of their goods on their platforms and offering combined services at a discount. If enacted, this bill will leave American households with fewer choices, fewer conveniences, and higher prices. Small businesses will also lose the competitive advantages that allow them to compete successfully.
Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women’s Forum, released the following statement:
“During National Women’s Small Business Month, we should appreciate how technology empowers women to bring their entrepreneurial dreams to life in the private marketplace. Tech platforms offer female entrepreneurs in the U.S. immense visibility and business tools.
“Yet, the conveniences and accessibility that small businesses depend upon may be at risk by this new antitrust bill. Instead of creating a more equal playing field for big and small companies to compete, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act creates hurdles for small businesses that run counter to antitrust objectives. For example, by ending targeted campaigns, it will be more difficult for small businesses like black-owned and veteran-owned enterprises to find customers for their unique goods and services.
“Congress may be trying to improve market access, but tightening the federal government’s grip on a handful of businesses, which are vital to the operations of numerous mom-and-pop shops and provide unique value to consumers, is a counterproductive way to achieve it.”
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Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.
Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) aims to educate the public about how government policies impact people’s opportunities for economic development and upward mobility.