Regulators raid Amazon Japan over antitrust concerns

Amazon Japan said on Thursday that its offices were raided by the country’s fair trade regulators over antitrust concerns.

The Seattle-based online retailer told The Hill it is cooperating with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission, but did not reveal any further details of the investigation.

{mosads}Japanese media reported that Amazon is suspected of asking suppliers to help take on the costs that come from selling their products at discounted prices. According to those reports, the company is suspected of asking suppliers to pay a “collaboration fee” to sell products with Amazon.

Japanese antitrust law bars companies from taking advantage of their dominant market position to strong-arm businesses they partner with into accepting unfair trade conditions.

Amazon has previously dealt with regulators on antitrust matters in Japan. In 2016, the Fair Trade Commission raided the company’s offices over allegations that it forced suppliers to list their products at cheaper prices on Amazon than on the sites of its competitors.

The probe ended in June when Amazon Japan agreed to stop doing that.

The raid comes amid growing concerns that Amazon and other tech giants are increasingly dominating their respective markets and shutting out competition.