Antitrust officials in Washington and their supporters from both sides of the political spectrum are closely watching Kamala Harris and her stance on President Joe Biden’s aggressive antitrust agenda. With the Biden administration ramping up efforts to rein in corporate power through a series of high-profile lawsuits, the next president will have a pivotal role in shaping the future of antitrust policy in America.
Harris, who has not spoken extensively on antitrust issues, has shown some support for the Biden administration’s competition moves. In her recent economic policy plan, Harris backed initiatives targeting price-fixing by landlords and criticized grocery mergers, aligning herself with the current administration’s antitrust efforts. However, her silence on the Big Tech crackdown led by top officials like Lina Khan and Jonathan Kanter has raised concerns among some antitrust advocates.
Critics on the left have raised questions about Harris’ advisors’ ties to big business, including her brother-in-law Tony West, who serves as Uber’s head lawyer, and Karen Dunn, a corporate lawyer representing Google in an antitrust case. Additionally, some antimonopoly advocates are uneasy about Harris’ reluctance to address calls from donors to remove Khan from her position as FTC chair.
The outcome of the upcoming presidential election will determine the fate of the administration’s antitrust cases, as the next president inherits these ongoing lawsuits. The level of commitment to antitrust enforcement will be crucial, with the potential for a shift in priorities if Harris assumes office without the same zeal as her predecessor.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Harris’ antitrust stance, there are signs that she may continue the current administration’s efforts. Key advisors like Brian Deese and Bharat Ramamurti, who have backgrounds in economic policy and antitrust, suggest a continuity in approach. The presence of former competition policy experts from the National Economic Council further indicates a likely alignment with the Biden administration’s antitrust agenda.
As the transition of power approaches, the wave of antitrust cases initiated by the FTC and Justice Department underscores the significance of the next president’s role in shaping competition policy. With a slew of major lawsuits in progress, any significant shift in antitrust strategy would be challenging and time-consuming to implement. The legacy of the Biden administration’s aggressive stance on corporate regulation hangs in the balance, awaiting the decisions of the next administration.
