Comprehensive survey report by METI on international policy trends and Japan's actual conditions regarding corporate mergers and business alliances.
Key Points
1. International Trends in Merger Control
- Tendency toward stricter regulations in major countries including U.S., EU, and China
- Expansion of foreign investment regulations from economic security perspective
- Stricter review of digital platform companies
- Response to coordinated actions in green sectors
2. Current Status and Challenges of Japan's Merger Review
- Building review system considering economic security
- Response to foreign company acquisitions in critical industries
- Handling multi-jurisdiction reviews in international M&As
- Competition law evaluation criteria for business alliances
3. Balance Between Competition and Industrial Policy
- Balancing innovation promotion with competition maintenance
- Corporate cooperation for supply chain resilience
- Harmony with environmental and sustainability goals
- Support for SME competitiveness
4. Future Policy Recommendations
- Improving regulatory predictability based on international coordination
- Clarifying review standards for digital economy
- Ensuring consistency between economic security and competition policy
- System design supporting companies' international expansion
This survey indicates policy directions for balancing enhancement of Japanese companies' competitiveness with maintenance of fair competitive environment amid advancing globalization and digitalization.