The DOJ plans to settle a longstanding lawsuit dealing with the data company Agri Stats later this week. Agri Stats has been accused of sharing sensitive market information with beef, pork, and poultry processors, which resulted in collusion and price manipulation by the big packers. “This is like the mathematician’s worst nightmare in terms of monopoly behavior,” exclaimed Peter Navarro, the senior counselor to the White House on trade and manufacturing issues. The legal action against Agri Stats is happening in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota. Navarro believes this case will implicate for ‘Big 4’ meatpackers. Navarro specifically cited Brazilian-owned JBS. “It‘s complicated by the fact that the Brazilians, particularly JBS, hands out millions of dollars to our American political system like it’s candy and the rate of return they get on that would make a Wall Street hedge fund blush.” Navarro and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche urged individuals with inside information to come forward. Significant financial awards are available through the DOJ whistleblower program.
