FTC Inspects 4 Firms over Suspected Paper Bid-Rigging
![](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20220207G0TG0PK9990113.jpg)
The Fair Trade Commission / The Public Prosecutors Office. in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, February 6, 2022.
10:57 JST, April 12, 2023
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday conducted on-site inspections of seven facilities linked to paper distributor Japan Pulp and Paper Co. and three other companies over suspected bid-rigging, Jiji Press has learned.
The four companies underwent the inspections for alleged antimonopoly law violations, as they are suspected of rigging bids for contracts with the National Printing Bureau for the supply of paper for the government’s official gazettes.
According to informed sources, the three others are Kokusai Pulp & Paper Co., which is a subsidiary of KPP Group Holdings Co., NP Trading Co., which is a unit of Nippon Paper Industries Co., and Fukui Shigyo.
The four are suspected of prearranging winners of the biddings to keep contract prices at high levels. The suspected malpractice is believed to have started around 10 years or more ago, according to the sources.
Orders placed for paper for the government’s official gazettes annually reach around ¥150 million.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
-
Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
-
AI-Equipped Energy Efficient Air Conditioners Grow In Popularity; Some Can Guess Users’ Moods, Automatically Adjust Temperature
-
Toyota to Introduce 4-Day Workweek for Some Employees; Company Hopes More Flexible Schedules Will Boost Worker Motivation
-
Japan Fair Trade Commission to Strengthen Monitoring;3rd Party to Report on Companies Ordered to Improve
JN ACCESS RANKING