News
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan on June 3 unveiled a report that it had compiled on actions that other governments’ competition authorities take against international cartels. Analyzed in the report are how competition laws are implemented in Japan, the U.S., Europe and other countries and regions as well as examples of international cartels.
As for transport services, cartels in air cargo transport and oceangoing shipping (e.g., freight forwarding, passenger and cargo transport and car carriage) services are discussed specifically. Focusing on cases in which court decisions are made, plea agreements are reached, summary indictments are made and other conclusions are reached, the METI analyzed the superimposed application of rules and regulations on competition, the multiple imposition of fines and other cases.
Saying that superimposed applications and multiple impositions will become more common when competition laws cover wider areas in the future, the ministry suggested that competition authorities hold negotiations, make arrangements and conclude agreements.
The METI report also introduces some who claim that learning from systems of other economies, Japan commence a discretionary levy imposition system in its Anti-Monopoly Act. On the whole, it proposes that a system be designed to effectively function as a solution to reach conclusions when problems arise from the superimposed application of rules and regulations on competition and the multiple imposition of fines.
