It was as if the Commission was seeking to impose a common market with common prices, rather than to ensure that competition prevailed.

The CAP provides for a system of common prices within the EU with market support to secure supplies.

Microsoft also agreed to charge common prices for Windows so the company could not use pricing to penalize or reward computer makers for their level of cooperation.

Consumers are concerned that they are not getting their full rights in terms of availability of products, common prices, or access to justice if they have problems in a cross-border world.

Ford has formed partnerships with dealers to buy up all of the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda and Jaguar dealerships in half a dozen cities, and then set common prices at all the dealerships.

Auto executives and antitrust lawyers say that consolidating the ownership of a single auto maker's dealerships and setting common prices is ethical and legal, although half the states put some limits on manufacturers' ownership of dealerships.