WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission voted on Thursday to scrap a 2015 statement that said it would be guided in enforcement by a “promotion of consumer welfare,” a move that some experts said could lower the bar on when it decides to file antitrust lawsuits.
In an open meeting conducted online, the commission voted 3-2 to withdraw the statement, with Democrats voting for the withdrawal and Republican commissioners against.
The commission also voted along party lines to approve a rule tightening who can claim that goods are “Made in USA” and to approve a measure that would streamline FTC rule-making.
(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Dan Grebler)