Trade Association Participation Antitrust Risk Assessment Checklist

Summary

This is a checklist to assess the antitrust risks associated with membership in trade associations and participation in trade association meetings. Trade associations and other industry bodies bring competitors into contact with each other, so participants must be wary of the dangers of illegal collusion. There are two key antitrust principles which every trade association must abide by: (i) competitors must not enter into agreements which restrict competition; and (ii) competitors must not exchange competitively sensitive information. Trade associations often carry out legitimate activities, such as benchmarking studies and discussing industry standards. You may permit employees to participate in trade associations if the correct protocols are observed, as outlined below.