The purpose of this Act is to promote fair and free competition, stimulate the creative initiative of enterprise, encourage business activity, heighten the level of employment and actual national income, and thereby promote the democratic and wholesome development of the national economy as well as secure the interests of general consumers by prohibiting private monopolization, unreasonable restraint of trade and unfair trade practices, preventing excessive concentration of economic power and eliminating unreasonable restraints on production, sale, price, technology, etc., and all other unjust restrictions on business activity through combinations, agreements, etc.
enterprise
「事業者」
Anyone who carries on a commercial, industrial, financial or other business; an officer, employee, agent or other person acting for the benefit of an enterprise is also treated as one for the purposes of Article 2, paragraph (2) and Chapter 3 (trade associations).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
competition
「競争」
The state in which two or more enterprises (事業者), within the normal scope of their business and without significant change to its facilities or form, supply the same or similar goods or services to the same buyers, or are supplied with them by the same suppliers, or could do so.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (4)· applies throughout the law
private monopolization
「私的独占」
An enterprise (事業者), alone, by combining or conspiring with other enterprises or by any other means, excluding or controlling the business activities of other enterprises and so, contrary to the public interest, substantially restraining competition in a particular field of trade.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (5)· applies throughout the law
unreasonable restraint of trade
「不当な取引制限」
An enterprise (事業者), by contract, agreement or any other means, acting together with other enterprises to fix, maintain or raise prices or to limit quantities, technology, products, facilities or business partners, so that they mutually restrict or carry on their business activities and, contrary to the public interest, substantially restrain competition in a particular field of trade.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (6)· applies throughout the law
unfair trade practices
「不公正な取引方法」
Any of the acts Article 2, paragraph (9) lists: refusing to deal together with competitors without justifiable grounds, unjust discriminatory pricing or selling far below cost that is likely to make other enterprises' business difficult, restricting a buyer's resale prices, abusing a superior bargaining position, and other acts likely to impede fair competition of the kinds listed in item (vi) that the Japan Fair Trade Commission designates.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (9)· applies throughout the law