Japanese Fair Trade Commission

Japan Fair Trade Commission Preparing for More Proactive Enforcement

September 27, 2024

Our Tokyo team prepared this memo on recent actions taken by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC).

Executive Summary

  • The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has been actively enhancing its capabilities to investigate the competitive environment in the tech sector of Japan’s economy.
  • JFTC has proposed significant budget and personnel increases for the next fiscal year, and it intends to strengthen its already-close coordinate with EU and U.S. regulators.
  • More specifically, JFTC is considering a fact-finding investigation into competition issues within the generative artificial intelligence (AI) market, and competitive issues related to businesses utilizing generative AI may emerge in society.
  • JFTC efforts are also likely to accelerate when the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software will come into effect by the end of 2025.
  • While big tech firms comprise the primary targets of these laws and of potential JFTC actions, players throughout the generative AI, online service and smartphone software ecosystems can anticipate implications.
  • APCO recommends multinational firms monitoring EU and U.S. regulators should also carefully assess their competitive environment in Japan and more closely follow JFTC’s movements to avoid the risk of new/expanding regulations and reputational damage.

Download the full memo here or read below:

Photo: Japanese Fair Trade Commission

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