The Revocation of EO 14036 Enables Corporate Monopolies’ Abuse of Power

StaffPress Room

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Samantha Cave
NFFC Communications Coordinator
samantha@nffc.net
603-333-6281

WASHINGTON, DC, August 22, 2025 – On August 13, President Trump revoked the Biden administration’s Executive Order 14036, “Promoting Competition in the American Economy,” sharply reversing course on federal efforts to combat corporate consolidation in the US economy. With Executive Order 14036 and other measures, the Biden administration had taken a more aggressive approach to antitrust enforcement in order to create better conditions for fair market competition. 

The food and farm sector is already extremely consolidated, with a handful of multinational companies controlling most of the food we eat and the inputs (like seed, feed, and fertilizer) that farmers rely on to grow their crops. For example:

  • 2019 data showed that just four corporations produce 75% of total domestic fertilizer production – CF Industries, Nutrien, Koch and Yara-USA.  
  • Two firms alone – Bayer and Corteva Agriscience – control 72% of the US corn seed market and 66% of the US soybean seed market.
  • The four largest firms – JBS, Tyson Foods, Cargill, and National Beef – purchase and process 85% of all beef cattle in the US. 

Without new federal policy to address consolidation, the revocation of this Executive Order will worsen existing conditions that allow abuses and the consolidation of power by the largest companies to go unchecked at the expense of small businesses, including independent farmers, and their customers. Since our founding, NFFC has fought for fairer agricultural market conditions, centered around better enforcement of antitrust laws like the Packers and Stockyards Act. 

This news also underscores the importance of securing strong legislation through Congressional action aimed at protecting fair market competition practices. Whereas executive actions can be easily erased by future administrations, legislation provides more durable reform that farmers need in the midst of escalating market instability. NFFC will continue to champion legislation that ensures family farmers have a fair chance to compete and secure equal footing.