日本競爭法上結合管制於我國公平交易法之啟示

Abstract

結合管制在競爭法上之地位已漸趨重要，其不但是事業獨占之前哨觀測站，更為市場結構陷入寡占泥沼拉起一條警戒線。在過去公平會處理實務上，結合管制向來是最為寬鬆部分，近來有漸趨嚴格之現象。但可惜的是，目前我國結合管制上仍有若干問題亟需解決，否則相關事業運用規避手段閃躲公平法審查，吾人卻束手無策，實非國家之福。 本論文探討日本法對於我國結合管制可借鏡處，推得下列出三個重點：申報條件明確化、審查內容細緻化、個別程序實效化。申報條件明確化可以使事業得知自己負有申報義務，主動向主管機關進行申報。我國在申報條件上仍有模糊曖昧之處，導致實務上或有事業無故遭受裁罰、或有事業規避法律以免除申報義務。其次在審查上，我國不僅欠缺明確的判斷因素，產生結果與原因之間混淆情形，整體利益之濫用解釋，更讓主管競爭政策之公平會權責不清，飽受諸多批評。而個別程序實效化之設計，可以使結合管制程序更有效率，解決我國目前遇到的問題。 由於結合管制屬於相當精細繁瑣之規定，在法規制定上更需要詳盡之說明，本文認為我國法制在公平法或結合處理原則上過於簡略，應針對內容多以著墨並舉例介紹，始能與國際間結合指導準則一致，促進整體經濟之提升。

Merger control is gaining importance in the regime of competition law, for it helps identify and prevent monopoly and oligopoly in the market. Previously, in Taiwan, merger control was lax in practice, but the Fair Trade Commission is tightening its grip on mergers. Unfortunately, several challenges in Taiwan’s merger control need to be addressed, so that corporations may not be able to dodge the scrutiny of the Fair Trade Act and that the nation’s wellbeing may be secured. This study has concluded three implications for Taiwan’s merger control from Japan’s example: clear requirements for reporting, detailed scrutiny, and effective case-specific procedures. Currently, in Taiwan, ambiguity in reporting requirements still causes problems. While some companies may be punished without valid reasons, some can avoid reporting merger cases by dodging the law. The authority’s scrutiny lacks clear criteria, creating confusing casual-effective explanations. The Fair Trade Commission, Taiwan’s competent authority, has drawn heavy criticism for overly siting “overall economic benefit” as an excuse to deny mergers; its duties and powers are not well-defined. Effective procedures to scrutinize individual cases will improve the efficiency of merger control and thus help solve the above-mentioned challenges. The issue of merger control is a complicated and detail-oriented one. Clearer legal explanation is therefore warranted. The author believes that Taiwan needs to improve its Fair Trade Act and elaborate on merger control so as to keep up with international standards and to benefit the economy as a whole.