Steady as clockwork, auto parts investigations around the globe
are continuing. These investigations have exposed wide-ranging
price fixing conspiracies. Prosecutors rely on well-organized
global enforcement cooperation, sophisticated electronic
surveillance, leniency/amnesty plus programs and private damage
actions. The toll in fines, imprisonment and damages goes on
and on, ever higher. This train wreck was
avoidable. There is still time to reduce the risk of further
fallout. The adoption of effective antitrust compliance
programs is essential to prevent the occurrence of such problematic
activity in the first instance.
There are globally hundreds of investigations and proceedings
– in the United States, the European Union,
Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia and China. To date, fines and
penalties exceed several billion dollars. Substantial jail
time for dozens of individuals, many foreign nationals, is now
routine. The United States has successfully extradited
