Antitrust is a set of laws and regulations that are designed to promote competition by curbing the power of large corporations and monopolies. It is also known as competition law. Antitrust laws are enforced by federal and state governments and are intended to protect consumers from unfair practices such as price fixing, exclusive dealing, tying, and other anticompetitive practices. The different types of antitrust include horizontal agreements, vertical agreements, and mergers and acquisitions. Horizontal agreements are agreements between competitors that reduce competition, such as price-fixing and market-sharing. Vertical agreements involve agreements between a manufacturer and reseller that limit the reseller's ability to compete. Mergers and acquisitions involve the consolidation of two or more firms in the same industry, which can reduce competition and lead to higher prices. All of these antitrust practices are illegal and can result in legal penalties, including fines and injunctions to stop the practices.