Japan is investigating Amazon over alleged mistreatment of other companies

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is investigating Amazon for allegedly using its market dominance to force down prices on goods sold on its site, as regulators around the world take a closer look at potentially anti-competitive practices by big tech companies .

“The JFTC has just initiated a formal investigation,” Takujiro Kono, director of the international affairs division of the Japan Fair Trade Commission, confirmed in an email to the Japan Times.

According to Kono, Amazon Japan and related companies operating in the country are suspected of restricting the activities of sellers on e-commerce site Amazon.co.jp in order to pressure them to lower prices. The company is also suspected of pressuring sellers to use Amazon’s order fulfillment services.