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，日本的竞争法执法特别“协商一致”，这意味着它非常强调倡导、协商和自愿遵守机制，如承诺。在针对亚马逊（Amazon）、乐天（Rakuten）和苹果（Apple）的数字案件中，以及在单边行为案件（与卡特尔案件相反）中，情况尤其如此。这种“双方同意”的做法与欧盟和美国等司法管辖区的做法形成鲜明对比，在这些司法管辖区，重大案件会导致高额罚款和激烈的法庭斗争。我的研究发现，日本在“双方同意”执法方面的丰富经验对其他司法管辖区具有借鉴意义。我已经在日本和国际会议和研讨会上展示了我的研究结果(例如Simon Vande Walle的《日本竞争法的执行：所有胡萝卜和没有大棒？》关于竞争法的私人执法，我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的分析。我与扬尼克·奥托（Jannik Otto）和帕特里克·豪泽（Patrick Hauser）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上（《欧盟竞争法私人执行研究手册》，巴里·j·罗杰（Barry J. Rodger）、米格尔·索萨·费罗（Miguel Sousa Ferro）和弗朗西斯科·马科斯主编）。爱德华·埃尔加，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).