WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley is pressing the Department of Justice to scrutinize the proposed Bayer-Monsanto deal as it continues to examine other proposed mergers and acquisitions in the agrochemical and seed industries.
In a letter to the Antitrust Division at the Justice Department, Grassley expressed concerns that a combined Bayer-Monsanto could vertically integrate traits, seed and chemicals; raise barriers to entry in the market for smaller companies; curtail chemical and seed choices; raise prices for farmers and consumers; and harm research, development and innovation.
“Our Judiciary Committee hearing on these deals shed light on multiple concerns raised by farmers and consumers. As these deals are analyzed and dissected, it’s imperative that they are not evaluated in a vacuum. We owe it to the American people to study the potential long-term effects of these proposed deals on competition and innovation in the agriculture sector,” Grassley said.
As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley led a hearing last month to provide transparency to the many mergers and acquisitions taking place in the agrochemical and seed industries. Grassley also recently sent a letter to Ren Jianxin, Chairman of ChemChina, asking him to respond to outstanding questions for the record that Syngenta was not able to answer about the merger of the two companies.
Here’s a copy of Grassley’s letter on the Bayer-Monsanto deal.
