US DOJ Antitrust Division Pauses Canada Cooperation Amid Dispute

The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division briefly directed staff to halt cooperation with Canadian authorities, triggering conflicting accounts between internal emails and official agency statements amid broader trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.

"The alleged direction was never given to anyone," the Justice Department said in a statement regarding the reports.

Internal Emails Detail the Pause

The reported freeze began Wednesday when Lynda Marshall, chief of the antitrust division's international section, sent an email with the subject line 'Pause on Canada.' According to a Washington Examiner report, the message ordered officials to immediately suspend all cooperation on cases and engagement on policy issues with Canadian authorities without providing a reason.

By Friday, the directive shifted. Section chiefs within the division were instructed in a follow-up email to compile comprehensive lists outlining all ongoing areas of cooperation with Canada by the end of the business day, according to a Fox News report.

Justice Department Disputes Freeze

Despite the internal correspondence, federal officials pushed back against the characterization of a broad freeze. The agency stated that the division was only asked to temporarily hold off on a scheduled meeting concerning a specific investigation until the antitrust team had adequate time to prepare.

The public disagreement highlights sensitivities surrounding cross-border regulatory enforcement. For decades, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and Canada's Competition Bureau have maintained formal cooperation agreements to align merger reviews, cartel investigations, and enforcement policies across North American markets.

What Is at Stake for Cross-Border Enforcement

Cross-border regulatory alignment allows antitrust agencies to share evidence, coordinate merger timelines, and pursue international cartels that operate across the U.S.-Canada border. Any friction in these channels can complicate multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions and joint investigations into global market manipulation.