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International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994

Public Law 103-438 · H.R. 4781 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 2, 1994 · Finance and Financial Sector

Sponsor: Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX-9)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Hamilton Fish

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994 - Authorizes the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide, in accordance with an antitrust mutual assistance agreement in effect under this Act, antitrust evidence to assist a foreign antitrust authority in: (1) determining whether a person has violated, or is about to violate, any of the foreign antitrust laws administered or enforced by the authority; and (2) enforcing any of such laws. Requires a request for such investigative assistance to be made to the Attorney General, who may deny the request in whole or in part.

Authorizes the Attorney General and the FTC to conduct investigations to obtain and provide to the authority evidence relating to a possible violation of such laws, regardless of whether the conduct investigated violates Federal antitrust law. Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to grant the FTC the power to conduct investigations of possible violations of such laws.

Authorizes the U.S. district court for the district in which a person resides, is found, or transacts business, upon application of the Attorney General made in accordance with such an agreement, to order such person to give testimony or a statement, or to produce a document or other thing, to the Attorney General to assist the authority in making its determination or in enforcing any of such laws (but prohibits compelling such person to do so in violation of any legally applicable right or privilege).

Sets forth provisions regarding the contents of the order, the preservation of rights and privileges, and voluntary conduct.

Makes this Act inapplicable with respect to antitrust evidence that is: (1) received by the Attorney General or the FTC under provisions of the Clayton Act regarding a premerger notification and waiting period; (2) a matter occurring before a grand jury with respect to which disclosure is prevented by Federal law, with exceptions; (3) specifically authorized by executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy; and (4) classified under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

Permits disclosure of antitrust evidence obtained under the Antitrust Civil Process Act in accordance with such an agreement.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) publication requirements; (2) implementation of such agreements; (3) limitations on judicial review; (4) preservation of authority; and (5) reporting requirements.

Authorizes the Attorney General and the FTC to receive from a foreign antitrust authority, or from the foreign state or regional economic integration organization represented by such authority, reimbursement for costs incurred in conducting an investigation, applying for an order, or providing antitrust evidence to such authority.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.

  1. Nov 2, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-438.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 24, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 8, 1994FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 3, 1994FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  9. Sep 29, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Sep 28, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  12. Aug 8, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. Jul 25, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  14. Jul 19, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  15. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.