FTC Prepares Possible Antitrust Suit Against Amazon

The Wall Street Journal has reported the Federal Trade Commission is considering an antitrust suit against an array of practices by Amazon accusing them of anticompetitive practices.

In recent years the FTC has looked at business practices at Amazon in recent years including whether it favors its private label products versus competitors’ on its platforms.

The Journal reported Amazon officials haven’t had individual late-stage meetings with each of the FTC commissioners to make their arguments against a legal challenge, possibly indicating ant action by the commission is not imminent.

In recent years the FTC examined Amazon practices especially whether it favors its private label products over competitors products on its platforms and how it treats outside sellers on Amazon.com, The FTC also has been inspecting Amazon Prime subscription service’s bundling practices, some of the people said. However, which aspects of Amazon’s businesses, if any, would be targeted by the agency is unknown.

Amazon and the FTC both declined to comment on the story. Amazon has stressed repeatedly that it competes fairly and that its services benefit both customers and sellers on its platform.