May 7, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The 24th ICN Annual Conference
Today, I would like to introduce the 24th International Competition Network (ICN) Annual Conference. It is being held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom from May 7th to 9th. Commissioner AOKI and other staff members of the JFTC are attending the conference.
ICN was established to promote convergence of procedural and substantive aspects of competition law enforcement. As of the end of March 2025, it is the largest global network of competition law area, with participation from 149 authorities from 136 jurisdictions. ICN is engaged in various projects by Working Groups such as Cartel, Unilateral Conduct, Merger, and Advocacy. Annual Conference is expected to foster international consensus on recent competition law and policy issues through the participation of member authorities, including their heads.
Approximately 400 participants from around 100 countries and regions, including competition authority officials as well as private practitioners such as lawyers, are expected to attend this year’s Annual Conference. Commissioner AOKI will speak at the Plenary Session of the Unilateral Conduct Working Group, the UKCMA Host Plenary Session, and the Heads of Agency Session, which brings together heads or senior representatives of competition authorities.
Participants will engage in a series of high-level discussions throughout the conference. These include the Plenary Session of the Unilateral Conduct Working Group, where they will explore “Challenges Ahead in Antitrust Enforcement”; the UKCMA Host Plenary Session, which will address the “Global Update on Competition in Digital Markets”; and the Heads of Agency Session, where the discussion will focus on “On Emerging Competition Issues.” In addition, officials from the JFTC Secretariat are expected to contribute to the discussions as a moderator or a speaker in the Breakout Sessions of Advocacy Working Group and Merger Working Group.
In conjunction with the Annual Conference, the ICN Technologist Forum was also held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, on Tuesday, May 6, where an official from the JFTC participated as a speaker.
We will continue actively contributing to activities of the ICN for establishing international standards for enforcement activities, strengthening cooperation among competition authorities, and enhancing its international presence.
（Tentative translation）
