GCA Antitrust Policy
As a non-profit trade association, GCA confirms its commitment to operate solely for legal purposes and to promote competition and benefit members and consumers. The association’s Antitrust Policy should be kept in mind at all meetings, and members should monitor discussions to ensure compliance. Members should refer to and adhere to this policy at all times.
IN ORDER TO GUARD AGAINST UNINTENTIONAL VIOLATIONS of the antitrust laws, the following topics shall not be discussed at any time during GCA meetings, whether as part of a formal meeting, a large group discussion, or in any private conversations:
- Discussion of current or future prices, fees, rates, discounting, and other terms and conditions of sale, which may lead to an agreement or consensus on prices or fees to be charged is prohibited. Discussion of general, historical pricing practices, as well as pricing models, methods, systems, or applications, is acceptable, so long as no specific prices are discussed, and so long as no agreement or consensus is reached – implicit or explicit – as to what constitutes a reasonable, fair or appropriate price or fee to charge, or what constitutes a reasonable, fair, or appropriate profit level.
- Discussion which concerns a refusal to deal with a particular company or a refusal to purchase its products or services because of its pricing or bidding practices is prohibited. Further, any discussion that encourages a company to refrain from competing in a particular market, or that limits or excludes a company from competing in a market, is similarly prohibited.
- Discussion concerning the allocation of customers or markets is prohibited.
- Discussion of current or future bids is prohibited.
- Any other discussion, which could lead to an agreement – implicit or explicit – that would pose an unreasonable restraint on trade, is prohibited.
The principal federal antitrust law is a criminal conspiracy statute. Violators can be subject to mandatory jail terms. For your own protection and that of the GCA, compliance with these discussion rules is mandatory.
