China tickets Japanese firms with biggest anti-monopoly fine  

中國開出反壟斷最大罰單 12家日企被罰12.35億元

中國國家發展和改革委員會20日披露，該機構已對日本住友等八家零部件企業價格壟斷行為處罰8.3196億元(人民幣，下同)，對日本精工等四家軸承企業價格壟斷行為依法處罰4.0344億元，合計罰款12.354億元。這是中國反壟斷調查以來開出的最高金額罰單。[查看全文]

Beijing (ECNS) -- China has decided to fine twelve Japanese companies a total of 1.2354 billion yuan ($201 million) over price monopoly, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Wednesday.

It's the biggest fine that China has imposed on companies under the anti-monopoly law.

Eight auto parts firms, including Hitachi, Denso, Aisan, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsuba, Yazaki, Furukawa and Sumitomo were fined 831.96 million yuan ($134.78 million) in total, while bearing makers Nachi, NSK, JTEKT and NTN were fined 403.44 million yuan ($65.36 million).

The NDRC said these firms had reached price monopoly agreements and applied them in China, which violated the country's anti-monopoly laws and damaged domestic manufacturing as well as consumer interests.

Hitachi and Nachi were exempted from penalty for voluntarily reporting on the price monopoly agreements on auto parts and bearings respectively, according to the NDRC.

China has been conducting anti-monopoly probes into several industries, particularly the auto field, during the past month. German premium auto brand Audi was fined 250 million yuan ($40.63 million) for violating the anti-monopoly law, while BMW dealers in Hubei province were fined 1.6 million yuan ($260,000) for manipulating market prices.