Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-102
§13a Discrimination in Rebates, Discounts, or Advertising Service Charges; Underselling in Particular Localities; Penalties
Title 15 › CHAPTER 1 — MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE › § 13a
Summary
Anyone doing business must not take part in or help a sale that knowingly gives one buyer extra discounts, rebates, allowances, or advertising charges that competitors do not get for the same grade, quality, and quantity of goods. Selling goods cheaper in one part of the United States, or at unreasonably low prices, to try to destroy competition or eliminate a rival is also illegal. A conviction can bring a fine up to $5,000, jail up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §13a
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, to be a party to, or assist in, any transaction of sale, or contract to sell, which discriminates to his knowledge against competitors of the purchaser, in that, any discount, rebate, allowance, or advertising service charge is granted to the purchaser over and above any discount, rebate, allowance, or advertising service charge available at the time of such transaction to said competitors in respect of a sale of goods of like grade, quality, and quantity; to sell, or contract to sell, goods in any part of the United States at prices lower than those exacted by said person elsewhere in the United States for the purpose of destroying competition, or eliminating a competitor in such part of the United States; or, to sell, or contract to sell, goods at unreasonably low prices for the purpose of destroying competition or eliminating a competitor. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 13a
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102