March 18, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Request for Public Comments on the Proposed Amendment to the “Specific Unfair Trade Practices when Specified Shippers Assign the Transport or Custody of Articles”
Today, I would like to talk about the request for public comments on the proposed amendment to the “Specific Unfair Trade Practices when Specified Shippers Assign the Transport or Custody of Articles,” commonly referred to as the “Logistics Special Designations,” and related drafts.
Since July 2025, in cooperation with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has held a series of meetings of the Study Group on Business Transactions and engaged in repeated discussions. The purpose of these discussions is to examine, with a particular focus on the regulation of abuse of superior bargaining position, how to improve the trading environment in response to issues such as creating an environment for appropriate price pass-through throughout the supply chain, ensuring appropriate payment terms, and taking further action to address problematic business practices in logistics.
At the fourth meeting of the Study Group on Business Transactions held on March 10, 2026, the secretariat presented the proposed direction of measures and schedule, reflecting the discussions to date, on the following issues:
● Creating an environment for appropriate price pass-through throughout the supply chain;
● Ensuring appropriate payment terms throughout the supply chain; and
● Taking further action to address problematic business practices in logistics.
The members expressed their approval of the proposed direction and schedule.
Based on these discussions, the JFTC prepared the following four proposals and launched public comment procedures on March 12, 2026:
The members expressed their approval of the proposed direction and schedule.
Based on these discussions, the JFTC prepared the following four proposals and launched public comment procedures on March 12, 2026:
● A proposed amendment to the Logistics Special Designations to address cargo handling, truck waiting time, and similar work not specified in the contract but required by consignees;
● A new proposed notification to set a 60-day payment period for transactions in the supply chain that fall outside the scope of the SME Transactions Act;
● Proposed operational guidelines for that notification currently being prepared; and
● A proposed amendment to the “Guidelines Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position under the Antimonopoly Act” to create an environment for appropriate price pass-through throughout the supply chain.
The deadline for submitting comments is April 13, 2026. The JFTC will widely invite comments from interested parties and other relevant stakeholders, and then reflect them in the proposals as necessary, with the aim of publishing the final versions around June 2026.
In addition, with regard to the proposed amendment to the Logistics Special Designations and the new proposed notification, the JFTC plans to hold a public hearing on April 14, 2026, pursuant to the Antimonopoly Act.
For further details, please contact the Inter-Enterprise Trade Division.
（Tentative translation）
The deadline for submitting comments is April 13, 2026. The JFTC will widely invite comments from interested parties and other relevant stakeholders, and then reflect them in the proposals as necessary, with the aim of publishing the final versions around June 2026.
In addition, with regard to the proposed amendment to the Logistics Special Designations and the new proposed notification, the JFTC plans to hold a public hearing on April 14, 2026, pursuant to the Antimonopoly Act.
For further details, please contact the Inter-Enterprise Trade Division.
（Tentative translation）
