Latest news with #unfairtrade
CNA
14 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Court orders granted against immigration consultancy firms, their operator over misleading practices
SINGAPORE: The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has obtained court orders against two immigration consultancy firms and their operator for engaging in unfair trade practices. VED Immigrations and SAVA Immigrations, as well as a third firm, Paul Immigrations, were found to have misled consumers into believing that there was an urgent need to apply for Singapore permanent residency (PR), and that the firms could guarantee the success of applications made through them. In a media release on Monday (Aug 11), CCCS said that the "mastermind" behind the firms' trade practices was one Mr Cheng Yong Teck. Investigations into the firms began after the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received several complaints regarding Paul Immigrations' sales tactics. CASE continued to receive complaints against the firm even after it signed an agreement to stop the misleading practices. After CCCS found that Mr Cheng had ceased Paul Immigrations' operations but resumed similar practices through VED Immigrations, the focus of its investigations shifted to the latter firm. Then, investigations found that Mr Cheng was also operating through another business, SAVA Immigrations. All three immigration consultancy firms' websites included forms that allowed potential customers to check their chances of obtaining permanent residency. According to CCCS, instead of receiving results online after filling out the forms, these individuals would receive phone calls inviting them for "free consultations". "During these consultation sessions, sales staff would make unsubstantiated claims about rapidly changing PR rules and intense competition from other applicants, to try to persuade customers to apply as soon as possible," said Singapore's consumer watchdog. "The sales staff would then make baseless guarantees of PR application approval if customers engaged their services. "CCCS found no reasonable basis for the businesses to make such claims or guarantees, except to close the deals." Customers paid up to S$10,000 (US$7,790) for such services. Investigations revealed that Mr Cheng was responsible for directing the operations of these businesses and was deliberate in implementing the misleading trade practices. When Paul Immigrations was investigated, Mr Cheng continued to operate through the other businesses to evade detection. CCCS said: "Cheng personally wrote scripts on what staff members needed to do and say to prospective customers, monitored their sales tactics through closed-circuit television footage and implemented a punishment-and-reward system to ensure that his staff members followed his methods." A district court on Jul 22 ordered Mr Cheng, VED Immigrations and SAVA Immigrations to cease the unfair trade practices; publish details of the court orders on online platforms used for marketing their services and in major newspapers in Singapore; inform all potential customers about the court orders before entering into contracts with them; and notify CCCS about any changes to their business structures, as well as to Mr Cheng's employment status and his control or ownership of his businesses. CCCS said that this is its first court action against a person who used new business entities to conceal unfair trade practices. Its chief executive Alvin Koh said that consumers' insecurities and unfamiliarity with Singapore's immigration system were exploited by the three firms, misleading them into paying substantial sums of money. "The mastermind attempted to evade detection by closing the initial business while continuing the same practices through other businesses,' said Mr Koh.
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
EU, Japan to work more closely to address unfair trade, says EU's von der Leyen says
July 23 (Reuters) - The European Union and Japan will work more closely to counter economic coercion and address unfair trade practices, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Wednesday. Von der Leyen's comments came after an EU-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the EU struggles to conclude a trade deal with the United States and a day before potentially tough meetings with Chinese leaders. Von der Leyen said the EU and Japan would seek to strengthen economic security. "We will also work more closely together to counter economic coercion and to address unfair trade practices," she said, adding later: "We believe in global competitiveness and it should benefit everyone."
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Administration Initiates Trade Investigation of Brazil
The Trump administration initiated a trade investigation of Brazil on Tuesday, an action President Trump threatened last week as he criticized the country's unfair trade practices and 'witch hunt' against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation will seek to determine whether certain policies and actions by the Brazilian government are unreasonable or have hurt U.S. businesses, the Office of the United States Trade Representative said in an announcement. The actions under investigation include the tariffs Brazil levies on American products, the country's digital trade policies, the access it provides to its ethanol market and 'anti-corruption interference,' among others, it said. Mr. Trump said in a letter last week that he planned to impose a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports, one of dozens of letters that he posted threatening steep tariffs that go into effect Aug. 1. But unlike other letters, the missive to Brazil complained about the country's policies that discriminate against American tech companies and lambasted Brazil for its treatment of Mr. Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for attempting a coup. In the letter, which was posted on social media, Mr. Trump said that the way Brazil had treated Mr. Bolsonaro was 'an international disgrace,' and that the new tariffs would take effect on Aug. 1. He also promised to initiate the trade investigation. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said Tuesday that he was beginning the investigation 'into Brazil's attacks on American social media companies as well as other unfair trading practices that harm American companies, workers, farmers and technology innovators.' By targeting Brazil, Mr. Trump nonetheless has touched off a renewed debate about the extent of his tariff powers. The president has claimed vast authority to issue steep levies even without the express approval of Congress, as he looks to combat the nation's trade deficit, address security concerns and, at times, meddle in another country's politics. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Japan Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Supermarket operator Lopia probed over unfair trade
The Fair Trade Commission has conducted on-site inspections of the headquarters of supermarket operator Lopia and related locations on suspicion of unfair trade practices involving suppliers, informed sources said Monday. According to the sources, Lopia had its suppliers dispatch workers to its stores to perform tasks related to product displays, sales support and product restocking without compensation on the occasion of store openings and refurbishment from at least 2022. Suppliers are believed to have suffered disadvantages that exceeded the benefits of opportunities to promote their own products because they often had to display other companies' products as well. Given their relations with Lopia, suppliers had little choice but to accede to the company's request. As such, Lopia is being investigated for abusing its dominant position, an offense under the antimonopoly law. Lopia, based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, has opened some 50 stores across the country since September 2022 and plans to open more. The rapid growth boosted its workload, which it may have been passed on to suppliers. According to its website and other information, Lopia operates 118 stores in 19 prefectures, as well as seven stores in Taiwan. Its overall sales reached about ¥320 billion ($2.2 billion) in the year ended February 2024.
Malay Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
HairFun admits to unfair trade practices in Singapore; elderly customers pressured into expensive treatments
SINGAPORE, June 4 — Hair salon chain HairFun has admitted to using unfair trade practices targeting elderly customers and has agreed to cease such conduct, refund affected individuals, and implement consumer protection measures, authorities said. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) launched investigations into HairFun following complaints received by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) about aggressive and misleading sales tactics, according to a report published in Channel News Asia today. Unannounced visits to three HairFun outlets in October 2024 revealed that from May 2023 to July 2024, the salons lured elderly customers with offers of low-cost haircuts, then pressured them into paying for expensive treatment packages they did not request. In one case, an elderly man visited the Ang Mo Kio outlet for an S$8 (RM26) haircut but was falsely told he had scalp haemorrhaging. He was then charged nearly S$1,000 for a hair wash and 10-session treatment package he had not consented to. The customer only discovered the deception after a doctor confirmed there was nothing wrong with his scalp. CCCS also found that the same salons previously operated under the name Scissor & Comb, against which similar complaints were lodged between 2018 and 2022. HairFun Beauty Pte Ltd, HairFun Pte Ltd, and their directors, Roland Teo Jian Hao and Chiong Hong Hioh, have admitted to the unfair practices and committed to ceasing such actions. They also agreed to a five-day cooling-off period for package purchases and have cooperated with CASE to refund nearly all affected consumers, amounting to about S$12,500. CCCS chief executive Mr Alvin Koh stressed the importance of protecting elderly consumers and urged businesses to ensure clarity and consent in all transactions. CASE president Melvin Yong welcomed the outcome and said the organisation will continue working with CCCS to hold unethical businesses accountable.
