Which antitrust statute prohibits contracts, combinations, or conspiracies in restraint of trade?

The Sherman Act of 1890, specifically Section 1, is the foundational statute in U.S. antitrust law that addresses arrangements that restrain trade or commerce. It explicitly makes illegal any contracts, combinations, or conspiracies that unreasonably restrain interstate or foreign trade. This statute was designed to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic behavior in the marketplace.

The purpose of Section 1 is to recognize that certain agreements, even among competitors, can harm the competitive process and lead to negative outcomes for consumers, such as higher prices or reduced innovation. By prohibiting such actions, the Sherman Act aims to maintain a competitive environment where businesses can operate freely and consumers can benefit from a variety of choices.

The Clayton Act, while also an important piece of antitrust legislation, primarily addresses practices considered to be anticompetitive that the Sherman Act may not cover adequately and is more focused on specific practices like price discrimination and monopolization. The Federal Trade Commission Act establishes the Federal Trade Commission and empowers it to prevent unfair methods of competition, but it does not specifically target constraints in contracts as the Sherman Act does. The Robinson-Patman Act deals with pricing discrimination and ensuring fair competition among the buyers of goods but is not directly associated with contracts or