Trial begins in U.S. states’ effort to block T-Mobile/Sprint deal

WASHINGTON: Trial began Monday over an effort by U.S. state attorneys general, led by New York and California, to stop T-Mobile U.S. from buying Sprint Corp, in a case that highlights disagreements between federal antitrust enforcers, who are Republican, and Democrats in powerful states.

Attorneys for the 13 states and the District of Columbia are seeking to prove in Manhattan federal court that a plan to combine the No. 3 and No. 4 wireless carriers would push up prices, particularly for users of prepaid plans. The state officials, all Democrats, asked Judge Victor Marrero to order the companies to abandon the deal.