US DOJ antitrust division news
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The gist
US DOJ antitrust division expanded beef price probe to eight retailers including Walmart and Costco.
The probe targets retail pricing amid broader antitrust scrutiny of meatpackers.
Background
The DOJ's antitrust division has been investigating beef affordability after President Trump accused meatpackers of collusion and price manipulation. In May, the DOJ launched a probe into the 'Big Four' meatpackers—JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef—which control over 85% of the U.S. beef processing market. The recent expansion adds eight major retailers to the investigation, focusing on retail beef prices that have risen about 10% over the past year.
How it unfolded
- May 2026DOJ launched antitrust probe into 'Big Four' meatpackers after Trump's accusations.
- Sep 2, 2026DOJ announced expansion of beef price investigation to eight retailers including Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and Amazon.
- Sep 4, 2026WSJ reported that DOJ antitrust division was instructed to pause cooperation with Canadian government amid trade tensions.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- DOJ stated beef prices are a critical concern and a priority for the department.
- Analysts
- Some analysts suggest the antitrust gambit may backfire, as seen in the Live Nation settlement.
Still unverified
The reason for the pause on Canadian cooperation was not provided; some reports suggest it is linked to trade tensions, but this is not confirmed.