It is the policy of GCCA and GCCF (“the associations”) to comply strictly with all federal and state antitrust laws and to require its staff and members to do so without exception in the discharge of any activity carried on by the associations or under the associations’ names. No meeting may be held in the name or under the auspices of the associations without staff counsel present.

What Are the Antitrust Laws?

The antitrust laws are federal and state laws designed to preserve free and open competition in the marketplace. They require that businesses engage in vigorous competition, and they prohibit activity among competitors that unreasonably lessens business rivalry. The Sherman Act, a federal statute, is the primary antitrust law applicable to trade associations like GCCA and GCCF. Other important federal statutes are the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Act.

The Antitrust Laws and Trade Associations
The Sherman Act prohibits any agreement, contract, combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade. Because trade association like GCCA and GCCF are a combination of competitors, anything done under the authority of the association in restraint of trade may violate the antitrust laws. For this reason, trade associations, their members and staffs have frequently been the subjects of legal action under the antitrust laws. The associations, their members and their staff, must be especially alert to the possibility of violating the antitrust laws.

Antitrust Penalties
It is important to recognize in this regard that severe civil and criminal penalties can–and frequently do–result from antitrust violations. The Sherman Act is a criminal statute. Violation of the Sherman Act is a felony under federal law. A person convicted of a Sherman Act violation can receive up to ten years in prison and can be fined up to $1,000,000 per violation. Corporations such as the associations and the businesses of its members can be fined up to $100,000,000 or more per violation. Additionally, persons or organizations who claim to be injured by a violation of federal antitrust law may bring a civil action to recover three times their actual damages and their attorney fees. Just the cost of defending an antitrust suit may run into the millions of dollars. Settlements and awards in these cases often run in the tens or hundreds of millions.

What Is an Agreement?
A good example of the flexibility of the antitrust laws is the meaning of “agreement, combination or conspiracy” as used in the Sherman Act. The courts have found illegal agreements where there was no formal contract or even a verbal one. An agreement can be inferred where the facts indicate that the parties understood what they would do without any overt communication. As one court has said, “A knowing wink can mean more than words.” Where persons act together toward a common goal, their concerted activity may be sufficient for a finding of an agreement, combination or conspiracy. This is especially true of trade associations, whose activities are generally the concerted action of the members. Even proposing an illegal agreement, such as an agreement to fix prices, can violate the law.

Basic Antitrust Considerations
The following is a basic discussion of the kinds of antitrust violations that are of primary concern to trade associations like GCCA and GCCF. It is not possible to provide a complete explanation of every antitrust violation or to anticipate every situation in which a question might arise. For this reason, the associations’ staff members are directed to bring any questions they may have to their supervisors. In cases where particular expertise is required, the associations’ outside antitrust counsel will be consulted.

A. Price Fixing
Price fixing is the best known antitrust violation. Most persons familiar with business and trade association activities understand that when competitors agree with each other on the prices they will charge, they have violated the law. What is less commonly understood is that any discussion among competitors of prices or the elements of price, such as costs, discounts, credit terms or profit margins, may lead to the conclusion that price fixing has occurred. It is not necessary that a specific price be agreed upon or discussed. Agreements that affect prices may be every bit as illegal as agreements that actually set prices. The Supreme Court has said that price fixing occurs where the activity has the purpose and effect of “raising, depressing, fixing, pegging or stabilizing the price.” Price fixing can occur where a range of prices or an ascending or descending scale of prices or a formula for prices is arrived at. Price fixing can occur where concerted activity affects price even though the degree of impact is not set or pegged in any way.

Agreements on elements of price such as discounts, kickbacks, rebates, credit terms, common list or book prices from which discounts are granted, and other terms of sale directly affecting price may also be illegal. Agreements on costs (including labor, salaries, equipment, overhead, etc.) and other matters that necessarily have an impact on price should be considered price fixing. Moreover, agreements between suppliers and purchasers concerning resale prices may also be considered price fixing. The mere discussion of these subjects at a trade association meeting may be interpreted as price fixing. Accordingly, the associations’ staff should be particularly alert to discussions of any element of pricing in the associations’ meetings and should terminate promptly any such discussion in accordance with the staff directives set forth below.

B. Boycotts
Boycotts are agreements between two or more firms to refrain from doing business with a third party or to do business with a third party only on certain terms and conditions. Two retailers may not combine, for example, to force their supplier not to sell to a third retailer in their market. Customers may not join forces to coerce their suppliers to deal with them on certain terms. Suppliers may not refuse on a concerted basis to deal with customers. Boycotts are no less serious than price fixing and may
constitute per se violations of antitrust law.

The prohibition against boycotts may preclude activities that seem beneficial and in accordance with longstanding business practice. Violations have been found, for example, where a trade association adopted a code of ethics to: eliminate practices considered substandard; attempt to rid an industry of price cutters; or prevent a new method of doing business that threatened the industry’s primary position as the provider of the goods or service in question.

C. Market Allocation
Competitors may not agree among themselves to decide where they will do business or what products or services they will or will not sell. Competing firms may not agree to abide by production quotas, to deal only in particular products, to operate only in certain areas, or to deal only with certain customers or types of customers. Like price fixing and boycotts, market allocation is a per se violation of the Sherman Act. There should be no discussion among competitors of where particular business firms currently or will in the future do business or of what products or services they will render.

D. Standard Setting
Trade associations may engage legally in setting product standards. Standardization can benefit consumers, but can also have a detrimental impact on competition and can, under certain circumstances, amount to a violation of federal antitrust law. The associations’ legal counsel should be consulted whenever standardization is undertaken. The following principles should be considered in reviewing standard setting:

1. Standard setting should involve a process whereby all points of view can be expressed and as many individual voices as reasonably possible may be heard in the decision-making process.

2. The process must be followed and not subverted by any firm or individual or combination of firms or individuals.

3. The standard itself must be intended to accomplish a legitimate purpose, such as safety or increased industrial efficiency. It must have a valid justification in fact and must impose the minimum harm to competition while still accomplishing the objective.

4. If a standard or the standard setting process fails to meet any of these guidelines, the fact that the standard is intended for adoption by a government agency will not preclude antitrust liability. The circumstances may permit somewhat more flexibility where a government agency is actually setting the standard, but these guidelines should be followed at all times unless the associations’ management and its counsel approve an exception.

E. Other Areas of Concern to Trade Associations
There are several areas of legitimate trade association activity which require the guidance of antitrust counsel because they are potentially troublesome under the antitrust laws. These are practices or agreements which do not necessarily constitute illegal restraints of trade because they do not unreasonably restrain competition under all circumstances. The courts have held, however, that in some circumstances association action in these areas can result in an unreasonable restraint. Each of the following subjects requires careful consideration and should be reviewed with legal counsel prior to discussing them at an association meeting.

1. Standards for eligibility for membership in the associations.

2. Codes of ethics or other self-regulatory activities.

3. Product certification.

4. Cooperative research programs.

5. Statistical programs.

Directives to the Associations’ Staff
In light of the importance of the antitrust laws and of the associations’ policy of strict compliance with the law, the following directives are issued to assure that all activity carried on under the name of the associations continues to satisfy both the spirit and letter of the antitrust laws.

1. A member of the associations’ staff must prepare the agenda and be aware of the discussions of all meetings of the associations’ committees, subcommittees or other units.

2. There may be no informal or rump sessions of any of the associations’ committees or subcommittees from which the associations’ staff members are excluded.

3. There may be no discussion at any of the associations’ meetings that may fall within the area of price fixing, boycotts or market allocation. There may be no discussion at any of the associations’ meetings, without the prior approval of the President and CEO, of: standards for eligibility for membership in the associations, codes of ethics or other self-regulatory activities, certification or standardization programs, cooperative research programs, or statistical programs.

4. Should any discussion take place at any of the associations’ meetings which violates or may violate the foregoing provision, the associations’ staff member or members present will terminate the discussion immediately. Any such action must be noted in the minutes of the meeting and must be brought immediately to the attention of the President and CEO.

5. Minutes must be kept of every one of the associations’ meetings, including minutes of meetings of committees, subcommittees or other units.

6. Any violations of any of these provisions must be brought immediately to the attention of the President and CEO.

7. No associations’ staff member will be reprimanded or otherwise disciplined or impeded in his or her normal career progression for raising an antitrust concern or for terminating a meeting even where it is concluded in retrospect that the objection or termination was not necessary.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

While there are a number of restrictions to the actions of the associations, there are a number of activities that the associations can pursue together legally:

Legislative Activities. Associations are solid proof that a unified, collective industry voice is a “whole” that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Indeed, lobbying is the reason that many associations even exist. The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that the ability of competitors to combine forces in order to conduct federal, state, and local legislative activities is protected by the First Amendment. This is true even if the goal or effect is to competitively disadvantage other parties.

Information Exchanges. Business decisions made in an information vacuum are invariably unwise. Competitors need to know as much information about the industry and their competitors as is legally permissible. A common activity of trade associations is the collection and dissemination of information regarding industry practices. While certainly there are legal guidelines that must be adhered to, the courts and the relevant federal agencies recognize this -as a legitimate activity. Even price information can be shared under limited circumstances.

Model Contracts. While association members cannot agree among themselves to utilize certain contract terms when dealing with suppliers, customers, or other third parties, the association can draft and distribute a “model” contract or “model” contract terms. Members, of course, must make an independent determination as to the appropriateness of the sample terms for their own businesses. Still, model contracts can be very useful in educating members on the kinds of contract terms that are available.

Position Papers. An association does have a general legal right to express its opinion on a wide variety of issues. The merits of specific business practices are a common example. As long as members are not coerced (or, in many cases, even urged) to act consistent with the association’s views, the antitrust laws should not prevent this practice.

Customer/Supplier Information Pools. Members of an association, as competitors, often deal with the same customers or suppliers. In so doing, it is often deemed useful to share in some way their experiences with such third parties or the products produced by these third parties. This assists the members of the association in several respects, but overall by providing a kind of “better business bureau” for the industry. Of course, this cannot be used as a “blacklist”, and there are defamation concerns to be aware of, but overall, this is recognized as a legal activity.

Standards. Standards typically are associated with scientific or technical subjects. But voluntary industry standards (i.e., agreements as to how things are to be done) can be adopted in most any industry for a number of business practices. They can be a very effective method of influencing industry behavior. Conducted properly, standards are also very legal.

Cooperative Buying and Selling. Some associations have formed and operate group buying and selling cooperatives. The function of such cooperatives is to purchase, warehouse, and to sell to, or to buy on behalf of, members at terms more advantageous than those available to individual members. As long as the practices of association cooperatives are not discriminatory, they are permitted by law.

Communication with Suppliers/Customers. A primary purpose of trade associations is to advocate the interests of the members of the association. For associations of retailers, distributors, dealers, or wholesalers, including vertically integrated associations that also have supplier members, (hereinafter referred to collectively as “distributors’ associations”), communication with industry suppliers is especially important.

While such communications are legally permissible, distributors’ associations must be careful in how they craft these communications. As a general rule, communications that urge suppliers to take some action (e.g., terminate discounters) can be legally troublesome and can result in antitrust liability. The preferred course for distributors’ associations is to issue communications that are in the nature of position papers. That is, they provide information on the views of the members of the association without actually suggesting any response or action by the suppliers.

The right of associations to speak on issues is guaranteed by the First Amendment. It is certainly not an unlimited right, however, and speech that runs afoul of the federal antitrust laws is not protected. While distributors’ associations must therefore exercise caution when communicating their members’ concerns to suppliers, these associations should not be cowed into silence by the risk of antitrust liability. If they act prudently and with a respect for the antitrust laws, distributors’ associations can effectively and legally promote their members’ interests.

Updated February 2023 by Webster, Chamberlain, and Bean | Updated GCCA & GCCF March 2026