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The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission today released a staff study of two early lawsuits the FTC brought to enforce a federal law prohibiting price discrimination. The FTC staff study, authored by John L. Peterman, formerly the Director of the FTC's Bureau of Economics, analyzes the FTC's cases against Morton Salt Co. in 1939 and International Salt Co. in 1940. It provides a detailed historical examination of early approaches to enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, which requires in part that lower prices a company offers to one buyer over another be justified by lower costs.

The study reflects the views of its author and not necessarily those of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission or any individual Commissioner.

Copies of the study,"The Salt Producers" Discount Practices Before and After the Robinson-Patman Act and the FTC's Challenge To Them: The Morton and International Salt Cases,' are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202 326-2710. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC's World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov