Japan ruling bloc, DPFP to shelve gas tax cut for now

Jiji Press

17:52 JST, April 19, 2022

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito and the opposition Democratic Party for the People on Tuesday confirmed that the gasoline tax will not be cut at least for now.

As a measure to reduce the impact of oil price spikes, Komeito and the DPFP called for unfreezing the so-called trigger clause enabling a temporarily gasoline tax cut.

The LDP, however, has been reluctant to do so, saying that the tax cut would cause chaos at gasoline stations and that pump prices should be reduced by providing subsidies instead.

At a meeting in the morning, the three parties confirmed that they will shelve the idea of unfreezing the trigger clause for the time being and keep discussing the matter, according to sources.

The parties are expected to reach an official agreement on the issue at a meeting of their secretaries-general in the afternoon.