“When companies have to compete, it means lower prices, fairer wages, and more innovation. That’s why, two years ago, I signed an executive order…to increase competition and lower costs for American households.”
– President Biden
Commemorating the two-year anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy this week, the White House is reasserting that healthy market competition “lower[s] costs and support[s] small businesses,” highlighting progress made to crack down on unfair industry practices, like repair restrictions.
Over the past two years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has zeroed in on original manufacturers’ growing use of anticompetitive tactics, like patent misuse and data restrictions, to steer more business to their exclusive repair networks.
These repair restrictions make it tougher and more costly for Americans to fix everyday essentials, like cars and cell phones. In research cited by the White House, economist Thomas Philippon estimates that a lack of fair competition costs the median American household up to $5,000 each year.
As consumers increasingly feel the squeeze of rising repair costs, bipartisan right to repair legislation, like the Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation (SMART) Act and Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, would combat original manufacturers’ anticompetitive tactics and help lower car repair costs.
Tell your representative to advance the SMART and REPAIR Acts today!
