Antitrust and Trade Regulation laws aim to promote free competition in the marketplace. Agreements or cooperative efforts by two or more entities that affects or restrains competitors is illegal under these laws. The Sherman Act makes illegal any contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce and makes monopolies and attempts, combinations, or conspiracies to monopolize illegal. The Clayton Act regulate price discrimination, tying and exclusive dealing contracts, stock acquisition and interlocking directorates.
Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located 60 miles south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 13,924; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 16,097. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St. Francois County and Washington County. Farmington was established in 1822 after its agricultural history and was previously known as Murphy's Settlement for William Murphy of Kentucky who first visited the site in 1798. When St. Francois County was organized, the town was briefly called St. Francois Court House and then later renamed to Farmington.