US Federal Trade Commission Sues Deere Over Equipment Repair Constraints
US Federal Trade Commission Sues Deere Over Equipment Repair Constraints
Seeks to compel the farm equipment manufacturer to make its tools accessible to apparatus owners and providers
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued Deere alleging it illegally drives up repair costs by forcing farmers to rely on its authorized dealer network.
The lawsuit stated that Deere's practices hindered independent repairs and self-repairs, boosting the company's profits.
The only software that enables repairs of all Deere equipment is produced by the company and provided to its dealer network. As a result, it has maintained a 100 percent market share, allowing it to hike prices at will.
The FTC seeks to compel Deere to make its repair tools accessible to equipment owners and independent repair providers.
Lina Khan, the chairperson of FTC remarked, "Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn an income.”
The administration of President Joe Biden has targeted anti-competitive practices in agriculture, including improving the treatment of chicken farmers by meat processing companies, to increasing competition in the seed sector.
