US Justice Department Files Lawsuit to Stop Sugar Merger

A sign for the Department of Justice hangs in the press briefing room at the Justice Department in Washington, on April 18, 2019. Patrick Semansky/AP Photo

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday it had filed an antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking U.S. Sugar Corp from buying rival Imperial Sugar Co.

The deal, if it goes forward, would mean that just two companies have the “overwhelming majority” of refined sugar sales in the U.S. Southeast, the department said, which could drive up prices.