On-site inspection by a cartel or the Japan Fair Trade Commission at four piping parts manufacturers November 25, 12:12
Four manufacturers of parts used for air-conditioning equipment piping have signed a cartel that raises the selling price unreasonably, and the Fair Trade Commission has inspected on-site on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act. I understood from the interview.
On-site inspections were conducted at "Benkan Kiko" in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, "Awaji Materia" in Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture, "Kobayashi Kogyo" in Nishinari Ward, Osaka City, and Tokyo, all of which manufacture and sell piping parts. There are 4 companies of "Japan Bend" in Ota Ward.
According to people familiar with the matter, the four companies are suspected of having a cartel that unreasonably raises selling prices over parts that connect pipes such as air conditioning equipment in high-rise buildings and oil factories.
It is believed that the four companies have been repeating cartels since around 2017 at the latest, with the persons in charge meeting and communicating by e-mail.
On the 25th, the Japan Fair Trade Commission conducts on-site inspections of the four companies' head offices and sales offices to find out the details.
Of these, Benkan Kiko said, "It is true that the Japan Fair Trade Commission's investigation has been conducted. We will cooperate with the investigation."
The other three companies say, "I can't comment because there is no person in charge."