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，日本的竞争法执法是特别“一致同意”的，这意味着它非常重视倡导、协商和自愿遵守机制，如承诺。在针对亚马逊、乐天和苹果的数字案件以及单边行为案件(而不是卡特尔案件)中，情况尤其如此。这种“两厢情愿”的做法与欧盟和美国等司法管辖区的做法形成了鲜明对比，在这些司法管辖区，重大案件导致了高额罚款和激烈的法庭斗争。我的研究发现，日本在“两厢情愿”执法方面的丰富经验对其他司法管辖区具有借鉴意义。我曾在日本和国际会议和研讨会(例如，Simon Vande Walle，《日本竞争法的执行：所有的胡萝卜和没有棍子？》，2023年3月29日，亚洲竞争法学术协会(ASCOLA)研讨会，https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBKzwpyuw-s).In)上介绍了我的调查结果，并对荷兰和德国这两个私人竞争诉讼蓬勃发展的司法管辖区的情况进行了深入分析。我与Jannik Otto和Patrick Hauser共同进行的分析发表在一本新的竞争法私人执法研究手册中(欧盟竞争法私人执法研究手册，Barry J.Rodger，Miguel Sousa Ferro&Francisco Marcos ed.，Edward Elgar，2023)。

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).