EO 14364

Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain

Signed: December 6, 2025

Published: December 10, 2025

Document Number: 2025-22537

📋Summary

This executive order directs the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to create “Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces” to investigate price fixing and other anti-competitive conduct across food-related industries, including whether foreign-controlled companies are driving up food costs or creating national or economic security risks. It affects major parts of the food supply chain (such as meat processing, seed, fertilizer, and equipment) and the companies operating in those sectors, especially where foreign ownership or control is involved. The task forces are instructed to pursue remedies when they find problems, including enforcement actions and proposing new regulatory approaches, and the Attorney General must start criminal proceedings (including grand jury investigations) if there is evidence of criminal collusion. The task forces must provide Congress with progress briefings within 180 days and again within 365 days, while avoiding disclosure of non-public information or details about ongoing investigations or cases.

💼Business Impact

This order signals a stepped-up DOJ/FTC antitrust crackdown across the food supply chain—especially meat processing, seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment—and will most affect businesses with concentrated market power, heavy use of pricing algorithms, exclusive dealing/long-term supply contracts, or foreign ownership/control. Expect higher likelihood of subpoenas/CIDs, merger and acquisition scrutiny, and enforcement (including potential criminal investigations) around price coordination, information sharing with competitors, and restrictive contracting; conversely, smaller producers/distributors may see opportunities to challenge exclusionary practices and win new accounts if dominant players are constrained. Immediate actions: run an antitrust compliance refresh (pricing, bid practices, trade association participation, competitor communications), review contracts for exclusivity/MFN clauses and data-sharing provisions, tighten document retention and “dawn raid/subpoena response” procedures, and for foreign-controlled firms proactively map ownership/control and prepare a narrative and evidence showing pro-competitive conduct and supply-chain resilience.

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Full Text

( printed page 57349)

Executive Order 14364 of December 6, 2025

Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1 . Background. An affordable and secure food supply is vital to America's national and economic security. However, anti-competitive behavior, especially when carried out by foreign-controlled corporations, threatens the stability and affordability of America's food supply. In recent years certain companies in the American food supply chain have even settled civil suits accusing them of price fixing for tens of millions of dollars. Food supply sectors including meat processing, seed, fertilizer, and equipment have similar vulnerabilities to price fixing and other anti-competitive practices. My Administration will act to determine whether anti-competitive behavior, especially by foreign-controlled companies, increases the cost of living for Americans and address any associated national security threat to food supply chains.

Sec. 2 . Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces to Protect Competition. (a) The Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission shall each establish a Food Supply Chain Security Task Force within the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, respectively, that will take all necessary and appropriate actions to investigate food-related industries within their established areas of expertise and determine whether anti-competitive behavior exists in food supply chains in the United States, as well as whether control of food-related industries by foreign entities is increasing the cost of food products in the United States or creating a national or economic security threat to Americans. The Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission shall take such actions as are necessary to remedy any anti-competitive behavior that their respective investigations uncover, including bringing enforcement actions and proposing new regulatory approaches. Should the Department of Justice Food Supply Chain Security Task Force uncover any evidence of criminal collusion, the Attorney General shall commence criminal proceedings as appropriate, including grand jury investigations.

(b) The Task Forces shall, as permitted by law, jointly brief the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the chairs of congressional committees of jurisdiction with a summary of their progress pursuant to this order once within 180 days following the date of this order, and again within 365 days following the date of this order, including, if relevant after consulting with the Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs, any recommended congressional actions. Such briefings shall not include any information related to ongoing investigations, prosecutions, regulatory actions, or litigation nor any non-public information regarding any food-related industry investigated pursuant to this order.

Sec. 3 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. ( printed page 57350)

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Justice.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

December 6, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-22537

Filed 12-9-25; 11:15 am]

Billing code 4410-CW-P

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