July 17, 2024
Japan Fair Trade Commission
(Summary of the 227th Antimonopoly Meeting)
Today, I would like to talk about the summary of the 227th Antimonopoly Meeting held on June 7 this year.
In order to effectively and appropriately promote competition policy in response to changes in our country’s economy, the Antimonopoly Meeting has been held by JFTC since November 1968 with the aim of hearing the opinions of all people and deepening their understanding of the implementation of the Antimonopoly Act.
This time, the General Secretariat explained three themes, and we have received opinions and questions from the Meeting members on each theme as follows.
Regarding the first theme, “the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software (the Act)” which was enacted on June 12 and promulgated on June 19, we received a question asking, “after the enforcement of the Act, what measures should be taken by the JFTC to improve users’ literacy on how to respond?” In response to this, we explained that for the effective implementation of the Act, it is important to promote competition through user choice and to create a competitive environment while ensuring user safety and security. For example, we will consider how to appropriately provide users with information such as the security measures taken by new entrants and cases of security issues that have occurred.
The second theme was “Operations of the Subcontract Act and Efforts to Ensure Fair Transactions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in FY2023 including the preparations for the enforcement of the Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Enterprises (the Freelance Act).” We received an opinion that “with the Freelance Act scheduled to come into effect in November, it has been communicated in an easily understandable manner to small and medium-sized enterprises. Since November is also the Promotion Month for Fair Subcontract Transactions, we would like to request continued efforts to promote both the Subcontract Act and the Freelance Act.” In response, we explained that currently, while the name of the Freelance Act is known, its details are often not well understood. Therefore, we will ensure thorough publicity of the Act, including in conjunction with efforts to publicize the Subcontract Act.
The third theme was “Enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act in FY2023.” We received an opinion that “while the liberalization of electricity and gas is being discussed and system design is being advanced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, many of these efforts were triggered by cases taken up by the JFTC. We would like to request continued proper enforcement of the act in the electricity and city gas sectors.” In response, we explained that we will continue to closely monitor and address anti-competitive practices in the electricity and city gas sectors.
JFTC will continue to promote competition policy effectively and appropriately based on the opinions above.
（Tentative translation）
Today, I would like to talk about the summary of the 227th Antimonopoly Meeting held on June 7 this year.
In order to effectively and appropriately promote competition policy in response to changes in our country’s economy, the Antimonopoly Meeting has been held by JFTC since November 1968 with the aim of hearing the opinions of all people and deepening their understanding of the implementation of the Antimonopoly Act.
This time, the General Secretariat explained three themes, and we have received opinions and questions from the Meeting members on each theme as follows.
Regarding the first theme, “the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software (the Act)” which was enacted on June 12 and promulgated on June 19, we received a question asking, “after the enforcement of the Act, what measures should be taken by the JFTC to improve users’ literacy on how to respond?” In response to this, we explained that for the effective implementation of the Act, it is important to promote competition through user choice and to create a competitive environment while ensuring user safety and security. For example, we will consider how to appropriately provide users with information such as the security measures taken by new entrants and cases of security issues that have occurred.
The second theme was “Operations of the Subcontract Act and Efforts to Ensure Fair Transactions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in FY2023 including the preparations for the enforcement of the Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Enterprises (the Freelance Act).” We received an opinion that “with the Freelance Act scheduled to come into effect in November, it has been communicated in an easily understandable manner to small and medium-sized enterprises. Since November is also the Promotion Month for Fair Subcontract Transactions, we would like to request continued efforts to promote both the Subcontract Act and the Freelance Act.” In response, we explained that currently, while the name of the Freelance Act is known, its details are often not well understood. Therefore, we will ensure thorough publicity of the Act, including in conjunction with efforts to publicize the Subcontract Act.
The third theme was “Enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act in FY2023.” We received an opinion that “while the liberalization of electricity and gas is being discussed and system design is being advanced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, many of these efforts were triggered by cases taken up by the JFTC. We would like to request continued proper enforcement of the act in the electricity and city gas sectors.” In response, we explained that we will continue to closely monitor and address anti-competitive practices in the electricity and city gas sectors.
JFTC will continue to promote competition policy effectively and appropriately based on the opinions above.
（Tentative translation）
