The antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will overhaul how it reviews proposed corporate mergers, a change that could speed up approval for certain business deals as the Trump administration adopts a more pro-business approach to competition law.
Under current rules, companies involved in most large transactions must submit paperwork to both the DOJ and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission so regulators can evaluate whether the deals could harm competition. In some cases, agencies follow up by requesting additional documents — a process that can drag on for months.
Going forward, the DOJ said it may initially request fewer documents in certain cases where it wants to take a closer look, with the ability to seek more information later if needed. Officials noted the streamlined approach has been used before.
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. explained the reasoning behind the change: “This change will allow for quicker and more efficient review of proposed transactions; more effective use of taxpayer resources; and above all, helps the Department do its job to safeguard a competitive marketplace while keeping America open for business.”
