Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, and JFTC Chairman Eiji Chatani met in Washington, D.C., to discuss ongoing competition issues affecting both the United States and Japan.

This meeting highlights the strong relationship between the two countries, as reflected in the historic U.S.-Japan Framework Agreement. Slater emphasized the importance of the JFTC as a key international partner, expressing gratitude for their long-standing collaboration on best practices and common challenges.

Chairman Ferguson echoed these sentiments, noting the significance of the friendship between the U.S. and Japan and the benefits of their cooperation for competition, consumers, and workers. JFTC Chairman Chatani expressed his honor in participating in the bilateral meeting, highlighting the importance of direct discussions among competition authorities.

The meeting builds on a 1999 competition cooperation agreement and a history of antitrust consultations dating back to the 1970s, marking the longest-running bilateral consultations between the U.S. and foreign antitrust authorities.