Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

Law enforcement officers recently conducted searches at the Tokyo headquarters of Amazon Japan, the Japanese division of the American corporation, Azernews reports.

According to the TV channel, Amazon Japan is under investigation for allegedly violating antitrust laws. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) suspects that Amazon's Japanese subsidiary has been pressuring retailers to deliberately set prices for their products lower than those on other competing online platforms.

The company is also accused of coercing retailers to use its logistics services. In return, Amazon Japan reportedly places the retailers' products in more prominent positions on its website, giving them greater visibility to consumers. The JFTC believes these practices could constitute violations of Japan's antitrust laws, which aim to promote fair competition and protect consumers.

This investigation is part of a broader global trend in which major tech companies, particularly Amazon, are increasingly facing scrutiny over their market dominance and business practices. In recent years, Amazon has been under investigation in several countries for similar concerns, including anti-competitive behavior and unfair treatment of third-party sellers.

The case highlights growing concerns about the power of tech giants in the global e-commerce market. Regulators in many countries, including Japan, are stepping up efforts to ensure that large corporations are not using their influence to undermine competition or harm consumers.

In addition to the antitrust concerns, Amazon has also been criticized for its treatment of workers, including allegations of poor working conditions in some of its fulfillment centers. This has led to calls for stronger regulation of the company, both in terms of its market practices and labor policies.