Today, it is generally accepted that companies and industries improve their competitiveness through market competition although exempted cartels under the Antimonopoly Act once played an active role as traditional industrial policy in Japan.

In recent years, competition authorities around the world such as the EU and the United States have been moving toward enhanced enforcement of competition laws. There are cases where Japanese corporations accused of forming cartels incurred substantial penalties and fines. Therefore, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is required to be careful about how the enforcement of foreign competition law might impact on Japanese corporations.

In light of the situation, METI formed a Study Group to research the influence of the enforcement of foreign competition law for Japanese corporations and released an  interim report in June 2008.

Moreover, METI formed a Study Group regarding Competition Law Compliance with the aim of developing the competition law compliance systems of Japanese corporations and trade associations and the Study Group compiled a report in January 2010.

Study Group regarding Competition Law Compliance (January 2010)

Outline of Report

Study Group on International Enforcement of Competition Law (June 2008)

Points of Report

Competition Enhancement Office, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau
Tel: +81-3-3501-1550