Enforcement of competition law in the EU and Japan at a crossroads: an enquiry into the effectiveness of the remedies imposed by competition authorities and the role of private enforcement

我的研究表明，日本的竞争法执行特别是“共识”，这意味着它非常重视宣传，协商和自愿遵守机制，如承诺。这在数字案件中尤其如此，例如针对亚马逊、乐天和苹果的案件，以及单方面行为案件（与卡特尔案件相反）。这种“合意”的做法与欧盟、美国等国的做法不同，在这些国家，重大案件往往会导致高额罚款和激烈的诉讼战。笔者通过研究，发现了日本在“合意”执法方面的丰富经验，对其他国家有借鉴意义。我在日本和国际会议和研讨会上介绍了我的研究结果（例如，Simon Vande Walle，《日本竞争法的执行：全是胡萝卜，没有大棒？竞争法学术学会亚洲研讨会，2023年3月29日，https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=XBKzwpyuw-s）.关于竞争法的私人执行，我对私人竞争诉讼蓬勃发展的荷兰和德国的情况进行了深入分析。我与Jannik Otto和帕特里克豪瑟共同进行的分析发表在一本关于竞争法私人执行的新研究手册中（欧盟竞争法私人执行研究手册，巴里J.罗杰，米格尔·苏萨·费罗和弗朗西斯科马科斯编辑，爱德华·埃尔加，2023年）。

My research suggests that competition law enforcement in Japan is particularly "consensual", meaning it places a strong emphasis on advocacy, consultation, and voluntary compliance mechanisms such as commitments. This has been particularly true in digital cases such as those against Amazon, Rakuten and Apple, and in unilateral conduct cases (as opposed to cartel cases). This “consensual” approach stands in contrast to the approach in jurisdictions such as the EU and the United States, where the major cases have led to high fines and fierce court battles.My research identifies several lessons which Japan's rich experience with "consensual" enforcement holds for other jurisdictions. I have presented my findings at Japanese and international conferences and workshops (e.g. Simon Vande Walle, The Enforcement of Competition Law in Japan: All Carrots and No Sticks?, Academic Society for Competition Law (ASCOLA) Asia Workshop, 29 March 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBKzwpyuw-s).In relation to private enforcement of competition law, I have conducted an in-depth analysis of the situation in the Netherlands and Germany, two jurisdictions where private competition litigation is booming. My analysis, conducted jointly with Jannik Otto and Patrick Hauser, was published in a new research handbook on private enforcement of competition law (Research Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law in the EU, Barry J. Rodger, Miguel Sousa Ferro & Francisco Marcos eds., Edward Elgar, 2023).