Tag: Asia

Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta criticized Wednesday the move by Yamato Transport Co. filing a lawsuit to halt the state-backed entity’s tie-up with convenience store operator Lawson Inc. in handling parcels, indicating that the entity will contest the issue in court. “Though consumers are demanding better-service competition, the essence of Yamato’s complaint is aimed at preserving its vested interest in the market,” Ikuta said at a press conference. On Sept. 28, parcel delivery service provider Yamato Transport filed the lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against Japan Post, claiming that Japan Post’s parcel delivery business expansion through Lawson’s nationwide network would be “unfair” under the Antimonopoly Law as long as the entity receives preferential treatment in taxation and other areas.

Yamato Transport Co. said Tuesday it has filed an antitrust suit against Japan Post in an attempt to stop the public corporation’s tie-up with Lawson Inc. , a major convenience store chain, in the parcel delivery business. In the suit, filed with Tokyo District Court, Yamato Transport is seeking an injunction to the parcel delivery agency service Lawson plans to offer from November under its contract with Japan Post. The company, acting on the basis of Article 24 of the Antimonopoly Law, is also demanding cancellation of the contract between Lawson and Japan Post, which the government plans to break up and privatize in stages from April 2007. Yamato Transport, Japan’s leading door-to-door parcel delivery service provider, claims that Japan Post has used improper profits to tempt Lawson to become agents of its “Yu-Pack” parcel delivery service. Yamato Transport said it has decided to take Japan Post to court in order to level the playing field.