{"id":2421019,"date":"2025-04-08T07:33:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T11:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antitrust-agenda-can-tackle-some-of-americas-biggest-problems\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T07:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T11:38:54","slug":"antitrust-agenda-can-tackle-some-of-americas-biggest-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/antitrust-agenda-can-tackle-some-of-americas-biggest-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Antitrust Agenda Can Tackle Some Of America&#8217;s Biggest Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fantitrust-agenda-can-tackle-some-of-americas-biggest-problems%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2421019&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the early competition policy efforts of the Trump administration, emphasizing a rapid pace in antitrust enforcement while avoiding expansive regulations. The administration aims to tackle significant national issues, including regulatory excess, foreign protectionism, and the challenge posed by China, by collaborating with U.S. companies to sustain American values and leadership.<\/p>\n<p>A key recommendation is the consolidation of antitrust enforcement agencies, merging the Federal trade Commission (FTC) into the Department of Justice (DOJ) to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic costs. The article argues that this merger would enhance enforcement and minimize unneeded regulatory burdens.<\/p>\n<p>The administration&#8217;s strategy includes a push to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">reverse previous regulatory measures<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-tuberville-democrat-relief-bill-to-spark-inflation-fuel-poverty\/\" title=\"Sen. Tuberville: Democrat \u2018relief\u2019 bill to spark inflation, fuel poverty\">hinder economic growth<\/a>, notably those imposed by the Biden administration, while ensuring that antitrust laws are enforced without stifling innovation. It calls for scrutiny of European regulations that disproportionately impact American firms and highlights concerns regarding China\u2019s technological ambitions, stressing the necessity for U.S. companies to remain competitive in the global market.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the article posits that the administration holds a crucial chance to promote investment and technology leadership while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-trade-chief-tai-to-unveil-bidens-china-trade-strategy-on-monday\/\" title=\"US Trade Chief T... to Unveil ...\u2019s ... Trade Strategy on Monday\">addressing challenges posed<\/a> by global competitors and regulatory overreach.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>In its first months, the Trump administration&rsquo;s competition policy is off to a fast start.&nbsp;Its antitrust enforcers have disavowed expansive rulemakings and prioritized growth to reduce the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/debt-has-always-been-the-ruinof-great-powers-is-the-u-s-next-02f16402?mod=wknd_pos1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national debt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As it settles, the administration should continue to target the nation&rsquo;s most critical concerns, including regulatory excess, foreign protectionism, and China. By working with U.S. companies, rather than against them, the administration can preserve American values, security, and global leadership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>More Enforcement, Less Bureaucracy<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. devotes two agencies to competition policy: the Department of Justice&rsquo;s (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an &ldquo;independent&rdquo; agency.&nbsp;For reasons both fiscal and constitutional, the administration should support efforts to transfer the FTC&rsquo;s functions to DOJ and eventually eliminate the duplicative agency.<\/p>\n<p>The FTC&rsquo;s chairman, <a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/www.foxbusiness.com\/politics\/new-ftc-chair-andrew-ferguson-previews-trump-admins-plans-agency__;!!NdqAjiViAO0!LAiY5t5MIHMHVZFAqw6HSxnlPX2sOwmhQGJW7AQovF4j31DJSh6OMgi0hdrHjRIcH1zdoIdmmyjMib2yQm9sig%24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrew Ferguson<\/a>, has argued that &ldquo;Independent agencies are not good for democracy.&rdquo; Future historians will marvel that the courts ever validated the FTC, a progressive-era contrivance that consolidates executive, legislative, and judicial powers in five commissioners. Under President Joe Biden, three commissioners purported to invalidate millions of private contracts and the laws of 47 states.&nbsp;Consolidation could prevent such overreach.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, a merger would save money while <em>increasing<\/em> enforcement.&nbsp;The FTC spends more than $183 million annually on bureaucratic functions unrelated to frontline enforcement, including dozens of employees in the press, legislative affairs, and commissioners&rsquo; offices. This figure excludes the policy and adjudicative staffs &mdash; the total bureaucratic cost is much higher.<\/p>\n<p>A pending bill, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lee.senate.gov\/services\/files\/3608bb13-fadd-4f7d-b2d6-ea9547a8f546\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">One Agency Act<\/a>, would consolidate&nbsp;antitrust functions within DOJ, improving enforcement and paving the way to transfer consumer protection functions.<\/p>\n<h2>Regulatory Excess<\/h2>\n<p>Upon retaking office, President Donald Trump moved swiftly to reduce regulatory burdens.&nbsp;The White House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/regulatory-freeze-pending-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">froze<\/a> new regulations and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/removing-barriers-to-american-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">repealed<\/a> Biden&rsquo;s onerous AI executive order.&nbsp;The <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-410147A1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FTC<\/a> &ldquo;committed to ending all of the rules and regulations that are no longer necessary.&rdquo;&nbsp;Building on decades of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/reports\/possible-anticompetitive-barriers-e-commerce-wine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">competition advocacy<\/a>, DOJ launched a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-launches-anticompetitive-regulations-task-force\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">task force<\/a> to combat anticompetitive regulations.<\/p>\n<p>To date, the FTC has moved more cautiously.&nbsp;The FTC is adhering to the restrictive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/system\/files\/ftc_gov\/pdf\/ferguson-memo-re-merger-guidelines.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 merger guidelines<\/a>, promulgated under Biden, and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AFergusonFTC\/status\/1889104725624168453\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">greenlit<\/a> a new rule for reporting mergers, even as Congress considered a <a href=\"https:\/\/fitzgerald.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/congressman-fitzgerald-introduces-legislation-provide-clarity-merger-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">resolution of disapproval<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As the agencies staff up, they should reduce regulatory burdens. The FTC&rsquo;s original merger form would have imposed annual costs estimated at more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/assets\/documents\/Complaint-Chamber-of-Commerce-v.-FTC-E.D.-Tex.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$2.3 billion<\/a> and the final still imposes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/assets\/documents\/Coalition_HSR_CRA_House_Judiciary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expensive reporting burdens<\/a>.&nbsp;Similarly, the merger guidelines will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/antitrust\/chamber-comments-on-draft-merger-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reduce capital flows<\/a> and allow the government to block deals without evidence.<\/p>\n<p>By reversing the prior regime, the administration could kickstart the economy and allow U.S. companies to improve their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/antitrust\/the-ftcs-objection-to-microsoft-activision-merger-a-bridge-too-far-even-for-europe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">global competitiveness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>With Friends Like These &hellip;<\/h2>\n<p>For years, Europe has targeted American companies through onerous laws like the <a href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/how-europes-digital-markets-act-undermines-american-tech-leadership-and-helps-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Digital Markets Act<\/a> (&ldquo;DMA&rdquo;), <a href=\"https:\/\/subscriber.politicopro.com\/article\/2025\/02\/trump-digital-services-taxes-00205579\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Digital Services Tax<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2022-09-europe-big-tech-billions-fines.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">General Data Protection Regulation<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/policymakers-must-maintain-americas-ai-edge-heres-how\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI Act<\/a>.&nbsp;These laws usually exclude European and Chinese companies from their ambit and have enabled regulators to fine U.S. firms tens of billions of euros for routine conduct, a pure wealth transfer from American workers and shareholders to European bureaucrats. Regarding a <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/ip_24_1161\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">multibillion dollar penalty<\/a> against Apple, Europe noted that its fines &ldquo;help to finance the [European Union] and reduce the burden for [its] taxpayers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Shockingly, the Biden administration supported Europe&rsquo;s efforts.&nbsp;The antitrust agencies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/federal-trade-commission-antitrust-europe-emails-foia-illumina-grail-acquisition-a78e03d0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collaborated with foreign regulators<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/biden-trade-policy-katherine-tai-ipef-ustr-lina-khan-open-markets-rethink-trade-847ec41b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">undermined the due process rights<\/a> of U.S. companies abroad.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Trump changed course. He directed trade officials to discourage improper digital services taxes. At an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.presidency.ucsb.edu\/documents\/remarks-the-vice-president-the-artificial-intelligence-action-summit-paris-france\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI Summit<\/a>, Vice President J.D. Vance blasted &ldquo;reports that some foreign governments are considering tightening the screws on U.S. tech companies &hellip; excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The antitrust agencies should combat the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearmarkets.com\/articles\/2024\/06\/24\/with_technology_the_us_looks_up_to_no_one_1039765.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">global contagion<\/a> of European-style regulations. They should advocate for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/enforcement\/competition-matters\/2019\/05\/ftc-becomes-founding-member-icn-framework-promote-procedural-fairness-competition-enforcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sensible competition policy<\/a> that protects consumers, rather than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalcompetitionnetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ICN_CAP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">industrial policy<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>The China Challenge<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/will-short-sighted-regulators-hand-americas-tech-title-over-to-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">China<\/a> is spending <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/tech\/policy\/article\/3085362\/china-has-new-us14-trillion-plan-seize-worlds-tech-crown-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1.4 trillion<\/a>&nbsp;to dethrone America as the world&rsquo;s technological superpower while also stealing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/us-chinas-cold-war-raging-cyberspace-where-intellectual-property-costly-front-1532133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$500 billion annually<\/a> in U.S. tech secrets.&nbsp;China now leads the U.S. in <a href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/america-must-act-now-to-secure-tech-leadership-new-study-finds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">57 of 64 critical technologies<\/a>, including quantum censors, high-performance computing, and AI algorithms.&nbsp;A commission&nbsp;found that China could supplant the U.S. in AI by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2023\/feb\/6\/ensuring-america-wins-technology-innovation-race-a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2030<\/a>, and&nbsp;Trump himself called DeepSeek a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/innovation\/trump-china-deepseek-ai-wake-call-rcna189526\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;wake-up call.&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In response, American companies are investing heavily in new technologies. As China seeks to embed its technology around the globe, Meta is providing <a href=\"https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/the-american-playbook-to-win-the-ai-race-with-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">open-source AI<\/a> alternatives.&nbsp;Google is investing <a href=\"https:\/\/techinformed.com\/google-75b-ai-investment-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$75 billion in AI<\/a> in 2025 alone.&nbsp;Apple is investing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/apple-500-billion-investment-us-19ca11a0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$500 billion<\/a> in the U.S., and Microsoft recently unveiled the first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/02\/19\/microsoft-reveals-its-first-quantum-computing-chip-the-majorana-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quantum chip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, some policymakers worry that tech platforms may limit speech. Platforms have reduced the spread of certain news stories. Some companies have admitted that they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/08\/26\/zuckerberg-meta-white-house-pressure-00176399\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mistakenly bowed to relentless pressure<\/a> from senior government officials.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since 2020, the market has evolved: Elon Musk purchased Twitter; <a href=\"https:\/\/about.fb.com\/news\/2025\/01\/meta-more-speech-fewer-mistakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meta<\/a> adopted Musk&rsquo;s content moderation model; Trump himself launched Truth Social; and, for better or worse, foreign-owned platforms maintain popularity.&nbsp;Moreover, upon retaking office, Trump signed an <a href=\"https:\/\/fedsoc.org\/commentary\/fedsoc-blog\/president-trump-formally-prohibits-government-jawboning-but-will-the-administrative-state-comply\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">executive order<\/a> prohibiting federal employees from unconstitutionally abridging speech,&nbsp;and the FTC launched a speech <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/news-events\/news\/press-releases\/2025\/02\/federal-trade-commission-launches-inquiry-tech-censorship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inquiry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Against this backdrop, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/5106310-trump-administration-antitrust-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">measured antitrust enforcement<\/a> appears the wisest course, neither treating tech companies as &ldquo;national champions&rdquo; immune to review nor seeking unprecedented punishments.&nbsp;The agencies should enforce the antitrust laws vigorously but allow companies to innovate and invest.&nbsp;In terms of both policy and precedent, does it make sense to dismember Meta over mergers cleared and consummated a decade ago, unwind Microsoft&rsquo;s vertical acquisition of Activision Blizzard, or break apart Google for overly long exclusive contracts? Such overly aggressive postures could kneecap domestic innovation and signal to foreign governments that they can hammer U.S. companies with impunity.<\/p>\n<p>Trump appears to agree that enforcers should consider the global landscape.&nbsp;He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/10\/15\/us\/politics\/trump-google-monopoly-china.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noted<\/a> that &ldquo;I give [Google] a lot of credit &hellip; [we] want to have great companies &mdash; we don&rsquo;t want China to have these companies.&rdquo; When asked whether to break up Google, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cGgxTFYF844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">he responded<\/a> &ldquo;If you do that, are you going to destroy the company?&nbsp;What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it&rsquo;s more fair.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Finally, a measured approach would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/entrepreneur-launches-new-internet-browser-to-promote-free-speech\/\" title=\"Entrepreneur Launches New Internet Browser to Promote Free Speech\">promote free speech<\/a> by encouraging the adoption of American technology.&nbsp;Consider the alternative.&nbsp;Chinese AI models <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/new-report-warns-of-growing-national-security-threat-to-u-s-as-china-builds-ai-significant-and-concerning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">actively censor<\/a> historical events and spread state propaganda.&nbsp;To counter such lies, the U.S. needs the world to adopt American tech.<\/p>\n<p>By tackling America&rsquo;s most significant challenges, the administration has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to promote investment, preserve&nbsp;technological leadership, and check China&rsquo;s antidemocratic global ambitions for decades to come.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Asheesh Agarwal served in the first Trump administration.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s competition policy is quickly addressing key issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1492,"featured_media":2421020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Department_of_Justice_Building_-_Washington_DC_14323816141-e1743949014634.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5374,5509,13123,4326,5270],"class_list":["post-2421019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-america","tag-antitrust","tag-economics","tag-policy","tag-regulation"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Department_of_Justice_Building_-_Washington_DC_14323816141-e1743949014634.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2421019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1492"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2421019"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2421019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2421023,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2421019\/revisions\/2421023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2421020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2421019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2421019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2421019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}