Agent Tyler is found making negative remarks about a competitor to sway a prospect away from that competitor's policies. What unfair trade practice has he committed?

The practice that Agent Tyler has engaged in is best identified as defamation. In this context, defamation occurs when an individual makes false or misleading statements about another person or organization, with the intent to damage that party's reputation. By making negative remarks about a competitor, Tyler is attempting to undermine the competitor's business and sway a prospect's opinion based on potentially false or exaggerated claims.

Defamation is considered an unfair trade practice because it not only harms the reputation of the competitor but also misleads consumers regarding their choices. It violates ethical standards within the insurance industry, which promotes fair competition based on informed decision-making rather than disparagement of others.

Other concepts, while related to unethical practices, do not apply to this situation. Misrepresentation refers to an agent providing incorrect information about their own policies or those of a competitor, which is not what Tyler is doing. Coercion involves pressuring someone into making a decision, which is not evident in the scenario. Churning specifically pertains to the unethical practice of convincing clients to replace one policy with another for the sake of earning commissions, which is also not applicable here.