May 20, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Meetings to Solicit Opinions from Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee Members
Today, I would like to talk about two topics. The first is the “Meetings to Solicit Opinions from Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee Members,” which the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) holds each year from May to June as part of its public outreach activities.
Since FY1999, the JFTC has operated the Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee system. Under this system, the JFTC receives views and requests from experts familiar with economic conditions in regions across Japan regarding the enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act and other relevant laws, as well as the implementation of competition policy. The purpose of this system is to ensure that the JFTC implements competition policy in a manner that reflects actual economic conditions.
Through this system, the JFTC appoints approximately 150 individuals from across Japan, including members of the business community, academics, consumer representatives, and members of the media, as Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee members, and solicits their views and requests regarding the JFTC’s initiatives. In addition to officials of the General Secretariat hearing from each committee member, the JFTC also holds “Meetings to Solicit Opinions from Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee Members” every year in May and June, where JFTC Commissioners and the Secretary General meet directly with several committee members to hear their views. In FY2026, these meetings are scheduled to be held during the weeks of May 25 and June 22 at eight locations across Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
The JFTC will continue to actively engage in public outreach activities, including by making use of opportunities to hear opinions from Antimonopoly Policy Cooperation Committee members, and will reflect these views in its competition policy to promote fair and free competition.
The 25th ICN Annual Conference
Next, I would like to introduce the 25th International Competition Network (ICN) Annual Conference. It was held in Manila, the Philippines, from May 6 to May 8. Chair CHATANI and other representatives of the JFTC attended the conference.
The ICN was established in 2001 by 16 authorities from 14 jurisdictions, including Japan, with the aim of promoting convergence in the procedural and substantive aspects of competition law enforcement. As of the end of April 2026, it is the largest global network in the field of competition law, with 152 member authorities from 139 jurisdictions. The ICN undertakes various projects through its working groups in areas such as Cartel, Unilateral Conduct, Merger, and Advocacy. The Annual Conference is expected to foster international consensus on recent competition law and policy issues through the participation of member authorities, including the heads of member authorities.
More than 300 participants from around 70 jurisdictions attended this year’s Annual Conference in person, including competition authority officials as well as private practitioners such as lawyers. Chair CHATANI served as a speaker at the Plenary Session of the Merger Working Group. At the Plenary Session of the Merger Working Group, participants discussed the theme “Navigating Through the Ever-Changing Economic and Political Landscape: Are Merger Control Policies Flexible Enough?” In addition, JFTC’s special adviser and officials from the General Secretariat contributed to the discussions as speakers or moderators at a session commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the ICN and at a Breakout Session of the Advocacy Working Group.
The JFTC will continue to actively contribute to activities of the ICN in order to help establish international standards for enforcement activities, strengthen cooperation among competition authorities, and enhance its international presence.
（Tentative translation）
