Retailers ask Congress to give them the means to bypass Mastercard and Visa

September 14, 2022

A group of more than 1,600 merchants is asking Congress to pass legislation that would give them the option of using networks other than Mastercard and Visa to process credit card transactions. The retailers claim that so-called swipe fees drive up prices for American consumers. Opponents of the proposed legislation argue that merchants who claim that savings would be passed on to consumers failed to do so when the Durbin amendment was passed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. Mastercard and Visa account for 77 percent of all credit card spending in the U.S., according to the Nilson Report.

Recent News

US Plans Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles

The Biden administration intends to announce new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), possibly reaching 100%, along with additional import taxes on various Chinese goods, including semiconductors. This move aims to safeguard American manufacturing interests, amidst concerns that China’s competitive pricing may undermine US efforts to boost domestic clean energy production.