TOKYO -- Japan will allow mergers in fields like shipbuilding that face intense foreign competition even if their domestic markets are dominated by a few players, according to policy guidelines revealed by the antitrust watchdog Thursday.
Antitrust watchdog to approve deals that would enable domestic players to take on overseas rivals

Japan's share of global shipbuilding fell from 35.8% in 2004 to 12.8% in 2024. (Photo by Sotaro Suzuki)
TOKYO -- Japan will allow mergers in fields like shipbuilding that face intense foreign competition even if their domestic markets are dominated by a few players, according to policy guidelines revealed by the antitrust watchdog Thursday.