President Donald Trump issued a new Executive Order directing the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to investigate potential anti-competitive behavior, price-fixing, and the influence of foreign-owned companies in the U.S. food supply chain.
The order highlights concerns about rising food costs and national security risks tied to foreign control. The new task forces will investigate whether collusion or monopolistic behavior is driving up prices, though the USDA was notably excluded from the process.
The DOJ and FTC must report findings to Congress within 180 days, but much of the investigative detail will remain confidential, continuing a pattern of limited transparency from past inquiries—such as DOJ’s unreported investigation into meatpackers in 2019.
The order comes as Trump faces pressure over high grocery prices and criticism from producers, even while he blames inflation on the previous administration.
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