Amazon's MFNs Raise Online Prices

Amazon’s most‑favored‑nation (price‑parity) requirements — combined with pressure to use its paid fulfillment and advertising — can force sellers to set the same (higher) retail price off‑platform as on Amazon. Empirical studies of similar clauses in travel markets and the FTC/California complaints allege the effect is higher fees for sellers, elevated consumer prices, and reduced competition. — If true, this reframes Amazon’s market power debate from 'low prices' to contractual channeling of costs and argues for targeted antitrust remedies (bans on MFNs, interoperability or ad/fulfillment decoupling).