Biden launches 72 initiatives to boost competition in U.S. economy

• "Having healthy competition is vital to an effective capitalist system,” Brian Deese, Biden’s top economic adviser, told the New York Times. “It is a driver of higher wages, lower prices, more innovation and more business creation."

Details: Among other things, the order will:

• Establish an administration policy of "greater scrutiny of mergers, especially by dominant internet platforms."
• Ban or limit non-compete agreements and occupational licensing requirements that impede economic mobility.
• Lower prescription drug prices by supporting state and tribal programs that will import safe and cheaper drugs from Canada.
• Allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter at drug stores.
• Push airlines to refund money when they lose bags or when the in-flight Wi-Fi doesn’t work
• Ban excessive early termination fees on internet bills, require clear disclosure of plan costs to facilitate comparison shopping, and end landlord exclusivity arrangements that stick tenants with only a single internet option.

• Encourage the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules prohibiting the blocking, throttling or paid prioritization of web traffic that were repealed by former President Trump's FCC, the sources said.
• Increase opportunities for small businesses by directing all federal agencies to promote greater competition through their procurement and spending decisions.

The order will establish a White House Competition Council, led by Deese, to monitor progress on these initiatives.

Read the White House fact sheet.