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Press Release

Officials from U.S. and Japan Participate in 35th Bilateral Meeting in Washington to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

The heads of the antitrust agencies of the United States and Japan met today in Washington for their 35th Bilateral Competition Consultation.  Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Renata Hesse of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez participated in high level meetings with senior officials from Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), including JFTC Chairman Kazuyuki Sugimoto.   

The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including recent enforcement developments, antitrust policy and enforcement involving intellectual property and technology and international enforcement cooperation.  The purpose of the meeting is to reinforce ties of cooperation and share knowledge in light of the increasing internationalization of antitrust enforcement. 

“The fact that this is our 35th bilateral meeting is a testament to the depth and strength of our relationship,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hesse.  “Given the importance of our economic ties and our shared interests in antitrust, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a close and productive relationship with the JFTC.”

“We value our longstanding and productive relationship with the JFTC,” said Chairwoman Ramirez.  “The opportunity to exchange views on both current enforcement efforts as well as cutting edge policy issues such as intellectual property and the sharing economy helps to advance enforcement cooperation and the development of sound competition policies globally.”

The United States-Japan bilateral competition consultations date back to 1976, making them the U.S. antitrust agencies’ longest-running annual consultations with any foreign antitrust agency. 

Updated July 14, 2016

Topic
Antitrust
Press Release Number: 16-813