Final answer:
U.S. antitrust laws prohibit a broad spectrum of anti-competitive behavior, including cartels and price-fixing, and are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to preserve healthy market competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the scope and enforcement of U.S. antitrust laws in comparison to EU competition proceedings. Unlike in the EU, where the focus might be narrower or differently structured, U.S. antitrust laws encompass a variety of prohibitions against anti-competitive behavior. Actions such as forming a cartel, price-fixing, rigging bids, and dividing markets are illegal under the enforcement of agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). These efforts are part of a broader mandate to maintain healthy competition in the marketplace.
In the late 1800s, concerns about single firms dominating entire industries led to the development of antitrust law. The intent was to protect consumers from monopolies that could charge high prices in the absence of competition and to encourage efficiency and innovation through competition. Antitrust laws are complex and can be interpreted in various ways, which can lead to accusations among competitors and challenges for regulatory agencies like the FTC and DOJ.