Closing arguments are coming up in the Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block the proposed merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons.

During the most recent hearings in U.S. District Court in Oregon, McMullen and Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran claimed the merger would allow both companies to lower prices and effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart, Costco, and Amazon, the Associated Press reported. Opponents to the merger state the exact opposite.

During closing arguments Tuesday in the Kroger, Albertsons federal merger trial in Portland, Ore., attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission asked a U.S. District Court judge to block the deal, according to reports.

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen says merging with rival Albertsons would allow the two supermarket companies to lower prices and more effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

Attorneys for Kroger and Albertsons insisted the deal would boost competition by strengthening both companies as a unified company, repeated company promises to lower grocery pric

The federal government urged a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday to temporarily prevent a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, saying in closing arguments the combination would “almost certainly” benefit shareholders and not everyday shoppers.

Here's what attorneys for the FTC, Kroger and Albertsons said during closing arguments of the hearing that could make or break the grocers' planned $24.6B merger.

As proceedings wind up in Portland, suits brought by Washington State and Colorado head to court to stop the grocery chain tie-up.

Key Takeaways The legal battle over the Federal Trade Commission's efforts to halt the $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger is scheduled to end Tuesday, with massive implications for the larger grocery industry.