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.
West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within the greater Houston metropolitan area. The population was 4,255 at the 2000 census. The first Congress of the Republic of Texas was convened in West Columbia on October 1836 (it was then named simply Columbia).