Japan’s Fair Trade Commission raided Amazon for violating antitrust laws. “There is a suspicion that Amazon Japan is forcing sellers to lower prices in an irrational way,” an unnamed source told Reuters.
Today, the regulator conducted an on-site inspection of Amazon Japan to find out whether the retailer gives better positions in search results to those sellers who offer lower prices. An additional report in The Japan Times suggests that this inspection is focused on Amazon’s Buy Box program, which places recommended products in a more prominent position in front of online shoppers. The publication notes that in addition to the requirement of “competitive prices,” sellers were allegedly required to use Amazon’s internal services, such as logistics and payment collection, to qualify for Buy Box placement.
The Japanese FTC has not released an official statement regarding this investigation. Amazon Japan Engadget’s commentary on the situation reads: “We are fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Amazon is also being questioned for anti-competitive behavior around the world. The Fair Trade Commission and the Washington Attorney General have expressed similar concerns about Amazon’s actions. The company is also expected to face an antitrust investigation in the European Union next year.
