US: FTC asked to probe Lockheed Martin

Daryl Guberman, CEO of Connecticut-based G-PMC, asked the FTC to investigate whether the aerospace giant Lockheed Martin violated antitrust laws and possibly engaged in espionage by colluding with China-led International Accreditation Forum and Wisconsin-based ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board.

Guberman and MFG partners president Don LaBelle have submitted complaints to the FTC’s Bureau of Competition claiming that Lockheed Martin is restraining competition by only accepting a single accreditation body group for its suppliers certified to the AS9100 standard. Guberman said Lockheed Martin’s leadership will only recognize certificates of suppliers and prospective suppliers with certification bodies recognized by the Chinese led International Accreditation Forum.

“Lockheed Martin has monopoly power in the aerospace industry and it’s possibly using that dominance to coerce its suppliers to pay ANAB and IAF accreditation and membership fees without an option for an alternative source,” said LaBelle. He concluded, “Anti-competitive practices have a negative effect on the economy, pricing, and quality because of limited options for the buyer, and therefore, the Federal Trade Commission needs to investigate if Lockheed Martin is engaging in anti-competitive business practices, and whether or not the aerospace conglomerate is aware of the widely unknown collaboration between IAF and ANAB and it’s leadership connection, especially the China-led International Accreditation Forum.”

Full Content: EPR News

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.