Morgan Lewis

Japan Steps Up Enforcement of the Antimonopoly Law Against Cartels

By Nathan J. Andrisani, J. Clayton Everett, Jr., Lisa Tenorio-Kutzkey, Antitrust Practice

LawFlash/Client Alert

  • published on:

    02/20/2009

  • by:

    Antitrust Practice

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If your organization maintains international operations in Japan or businesses that affect Japanese commerce, it is now more important than ever to make sure that your company and its executives are in compliance with Japan's Antimonopoly Law. On February 18, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) levied its largest combined cartel fine in history, totaling ¥11.7 billion (approx. $125 million), against two companies in the domestic PVC pipe industry. This historic fine comes on the heels of the JFTC's initiation, in late January, of its first international cartel investigation in nearly two years. Moreover, the Japanese governing party recently re-approved a proposed amendment to the Antimonopoly Law that would increase the maximum jail terms for individuals convicted of price-fixing or bid-rigging from three to five years.

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