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The article explores the main areas in contention in relation to Great Britain's competitiveness policy vs. Japanese industrial policy. Industrial policy embraces all acts and policies of the state in relation to industry, be they economic, social or environmental. To the extent that the authorities controlling competition policy possess a certain amount of discretion, they may well practice an implicit industrial policy. Anti-dumping regulations would not normally fit in the definition, because their main purpose is to promote fair competition in all sectors exposed to the dangers of international competition. It refers to enhancing the strength of national industries' relative to their foreign competitors, it follows that certain industries or firms will be afforded special treatment either to enhance their export performance or their domestic performance relative to the foreign counterparts operating within the same territory. Japan's post-war industrial policy is a product of government intervention in the private sector during the war and the period of turmoil that ensued.