It is widely understood that agreements with competitors to fix prices, to allocate markets or customers, to refuse to deal or to exclude competitors are generally forbidden by the antitrust laws.
Trade associations are susceptible to misinterpretations. Membership in any trade association should be carefully considered to ensure that its purposes and practices are proper and lawful. Furthermore, no CPG representative is authorized to participate in any meetings with representatives of competitors, whether held by a trade association, professional society, management association, government advisory committee, or otherwise, in which discussions range into improper areas.
