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The article reports on the issues concerning the effort of the Japanese Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI) to establish cartels. It notes that such move receives serious opposition from the U.S. as well as from antitrust proponents across the country. Those opposing groups claim that cartels pose threats to the nation's recession-stricken companies and cause adverse impacts on competitiveness.

The article focuses on the competition between Digital Equipment Corp. and Data General Corp. over a dominant share of the Japanese minicomputer market. The bid of Data General to license the manufacture of its Nova minicomputer line has been approved by the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI). The deal shows how MITI insures that foreign firms follow the rules in tackling the Japanese market. A minimum payment of 50,000 U.S. dollars in the second and third years of the agreement will be received by Data General.