Japan watchdog raids four major brewers over suspected beer price cartel

Japanese authorities raided four major beer manufacturers on Wednesday over suspected price collusion. The targeted companies—Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries, and Suntory—are under investigation by the country's watchdog for allegedly conspiring to hike beverage prices in violation of anti-monopoly laws.

The investigation focuses on a market valued at more than ¥1 trillion annually. The alleged price-fixing potentially impacted consumers across the nation, triggering the enforcement action by regulatory officials in Tokyo.