1、CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i The Role of Section 708 of the Defense Production Act in the Federal Governments Response to COVID-19: Antitrust Considerations August 24, 2020 Section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) auth
2、orizes the President to “consult with representatives of industry, business, financing, agriculture, labor, and other interests in order to provide for the making by such persons, with approval of the President, of voluntary agreements and plans of action to help provide for the national defense.” T
3、he DPA defines national defense broadly to include, among other things, preparedness for, responding to, and recovery from national emergencies such as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Section 708 also establishes a special defense that may shield companies cooperating under the DPA
4、 from antitrust liability “with respect to any action taken to develop or carry out any voluntary agreement or plan of action.” On March 27, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 13911 (Delegating Additional Authority Under the DPA with Respect to Health and Medical Resources to Respond
