INTERNATIONAL

Japanese Agency Files Price-Fixing Complaint: Under U.S. pressure, Japan’s Fair Trade Commission filed its first criminal complaint against price fixing in 17 years. The complaint against eight major food-wrapping manufacturers marks a small victory both for the commission, which has been scorned as a toothless watchdog, and the United States, which has been trying to pry open Japanese markets. Japan has eliminated most formal trade barriers, but price fixing, bid rigging and other exclusionary practices remain widespread. As a result of the alleged price fixing, the cost of vinyl wrapping increased by 1 cents a pound, the commission said.