By Sachiko Sakamaki ( June 17, 2026, 04:31 GMT | Insight) -- The Japanese antitrust agency announced on Wednesday that it is launching a new survey into whether small and medium-sized enterprises are being squeezed by rising crude oil and petroleum-related product prices, as well as by larger trading partners that are reluctant to accept price increases. By finalizing new antitrust rules aimed at ensuring SMEs can pass on higher costs, the competition watchdog is also stepping up scrutiny of conduct that may constitute abuse of SMEs under the Antimonopoly Act.The Japanese antitrust agency announced on Wednesday that it is launching a new survey into whether small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, are being squeezed by rising crude oil and petroleum-related product prices, as well as by larger trading partners that are reluctant to accept price increases. By finalizing new antitrust rules aimed at ensuring SMEs can pass on higher costs, the competition watchdog is also stepping up scrutiny of conduct that may constitute abuse of SMEs under the Antimonopoly Act....
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