Bayer-Monsanto Meeting Prompts Sen. Klobuchar to Press Attorney General Nominee on Integrity of Antitrust Enforcement in a Trump Administration

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar sent additional questions to Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions about his readiness to defend the integrity of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, after it was learned that President-elect Trump had a high-level meeting with representatives of Bayer and Monsanto about their proposed merger. If approved, the merger would create the largest seed and pesticide corporation in the world.

Following is a statement by Rebecca Riley, Senior Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“Senator Klobuchar raises exactly the right concerns at a critical time.  A combined Bayer and Monsanto would be a corporate Goliath, with the potential to dominate the global food system. Since it’s farmers and consumers who would ultimately pay the price, it’s crucial that the Attorney General ensure the integrity and independence of the Justice Department’s antitrust review of the merger.”

NRDC sent a letter to the Department of Justice last month, expressing its strong opposition to the merger.

Additional Information:

Bigger Isn’t Better: Bayer Takeover is Bad for Farmers, Bees https://www.nrdc.org/experts/rebecca-riley/bigger-isnt-better-bayer-takeover-bad-farmers-bees

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us atwww.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.