Japan PM backs food tax cut and financial support for workers

Workers would receive support payments, and food purchases would be subject to a lower consumption tax under the plans Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi promoted on Wednesday (October 7) to help people cope with high prices.

She presented the proposals at a plenary sitting of the House of Representatives, Japan’s lower parliamentary chamber.

Rejecting a proposed cash handout for every household, she called her preferred combination “the best in light of sufficiency and promptness”.

Takaichi expected parliament to take discussions further on a bill providing for fewer lower house seats and approve it before the current session ended.

Japan would keep cooperating with the countries concerned on removing the United Nations Charter’s enemy state clauses, she said.

Her position on China was that Japan “will promote dialogue with China to protect national interests and build stable and constructive relations”.

Reduced road infrastructure funding for two municipalities also came up in questions to Takaichi over controversial remarks by Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana.

Both municipalities were led by people who had supported Yana’s rival in February’s lower house election.

Takaichi described the budget cuts affecting the two municipalities as “the result of comprehensive consideration” and said she would “ensure appropriate budget allocations”.

“It is natural that political support or opposition should not affect budget allocations,” she said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]