Regulating Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position Under the Japanese Competition Law: An Anomaly or a Necessity?

3(2) Journal of Antitrust Enforcement 302-33

67 Pages Posted: 16 Jan 2018 Last revised: 21 Apr 2023

See all articles by Masako Wakui

Masako Wakui

Kyoto University Graduate School of Law

Thomas K. Cheng

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Law

Date Written: June 4, 2015

Abstract

Abuse of superior bargaining position has long been a controversial area of Japanese competition law. Even though it is by no means unique to Japan — Korea, Taiwan, France, and Germany among others also have similar regulation — Japan’s abuse regulation has tended to attract more attention globally. One of the main sources of controversy for abuse regulation is whether it is consistent with competition law, and whether it serves any useful economic purpose. This article attempts to address this long-standing debate by examining whether abuse regulation is consistent with the various objectives of competition law and other economic rationales. Having determined that these objectives and rationales provide at best tenuous justifications for abuse regulation, or are inconsistent with the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s current enforcement practices, it proceeds to argue that abuse regulation can be best justified as a supplement to deficient contract law enforcement, which many commentators have noted is particularly serious for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Japan.

Keywords: competition law, Japan, abuse of superior bargaining position

JEL Classification: K21, L40

Suggested Citation

Wakui, Masako and Cheng, Thomas K., Regulating Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position Under the Japanese Competition Law: An Anomaly or a Necessity? (June 4, 2015). 3(2) Journal of Antitrust Enforcement 302-33, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2928755

Masako Wakui

Kyoto University Graduate School of Law ( email )

Yoshida honmachi
Sakyo Ward
Kyoto, 606-8501
Japan
8053381375 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://researchmap.jp/mwakui/?lang=english

Thomas K. Cheng (Contact Author)

The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Law ( email )

Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
China

HOME PAGE: http://hub.hku.hk/rp/rp01242

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
173
Abstract Views
1,025
Rank
336,545
PlumX Metrics