Final answer:
Brokers discussing commission rates must be careful to avoid any appearances of price fixing as such discussions can violate antitrust laws. Each brokerage should independently set their commission rates without agreements or coordination with competitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two different brokers are discussing commission rates, there are legal considerations to take into account. The key issue is that such discussions can potentially be seen as price fixing, which is illegal under antitrust laws. Antitrust laws, such as the Sherman Act in the United States, are designed to promote competition and prohibit practices like price fixing, which is defined as an agreement between competitors to raise, fix, or otherwise maintain the price at which their goods or services are sold.
Real estate brokers, for example, should avoid discussing their commission rates with other brokers to ensure they are not violating antitrust laws. This rule generally applies to any brokers or competitors in the same market, regardless of the industry. Each brokerage must independently set commission rates without collusion or coordination with others.