California Unseals Evidence of Amazon Price-Fixing Pressure on Vendors
California AG Rob Bonta unsealed filings on April 26 alleging Amazon.com Inc warned vendors of Buy Box penalties unless they matched Amazon prices, inflating costs at Walmart, Target, Chewy, Best Buy and Home Depot. This advances a 3½-year antitrust suit where new evidence of collusion was filed April 25, seeking damages, injunction and a court monitor. A preliminary injunction hearing is July 23, 2026, with trial January 19, 2027. Amazon denies wrongdoing, calling agreements pro-consumer. The risks could pressure shares despite initial 3.5% gain.