May 24, 2023
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Today, I would like to talk briefly about the Anti-Monopoly Consultation Network.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission gives enterprises various advice regarding the Anti-Monopoly Act and the Subcontract Act. Especially, we operate “the Anti-Monopoly Act Consultation Network” in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Commerce and Industry Association to closely respond consultations from small and medium-sized enterprises. More specifically, various consultations related to the Anti-Monopoly Act and the Subcontract Act at inquiry counters established in more than 2,000 Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Commerce and Industry Association nationwide are passed on by them to us, depending on the content of the consultations. This will make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises and others throughout Japan to make complaints and consultations regarding the Anti-Monopoly Act and other laws.
In addition to distributing pamphlets and other reference materials to the Chamber of Commerce as well as Industry and Commerce and Industry Association nationwide, the Japan Fair Trade Commission sends our officials as instructors to conduct training sessions there to help business advisors engaged in advice services understand the Anti-Monopoly Act and other laws. In 2020 and 2021, the frequency of training sessions decreased due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but in the last year, it has been recovering so that we sent our officials as instructors to 27 training sessions nationwide. We will continue to respond proactively to requests for training session instructors.
It is sometimes said that the Japan Fair Trade Commission gives the image of being difficult to approach, but this is not true. We hope that small and medium-sized enterprises will be willing to use “the Anti-Monopoly Act Consultation Network”as accessible and familiar inquiry counters at local Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Commerce and Industry Association, besides the Japan Fair Trade Commission.
The Consultation and Guidance Office of the Trade Practices Department is in charge of this matter.
（Tentative translation）
