(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice launched a deregulatory task force on Thursday to advocate against regulations that could harm competition, especially in markets that affect consumers such as agriculture, housing, transportation, healthcare and energy.

The DOJ's Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force will gather public comment from businesses, consumers and advocacy groups on state and federal regulations that pose barriers to competition, and advocate against such regulation.

Abigail Slater, who leads the DOJ's antitrust division, said in a statement that the task force is aimed at delivering on President Donald Trump's deregulatory agenda.

"This Antitrust Division will stand against harmful barriers to competition whether imposed by public regulators or private monopolists," Slater said.