TOKYO (MNI) – Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi said on Tuesday
that he wants to see revenues from a proposed hike in the 5% consumption
(sales) tax to be used solely for financing growing social security
costs, and not for general expenditures.

He also told reporters that the government should offer tax credits
to low-income households in order to mitigate the impact of a higher tax
rate on goods and services including daily necessities.

tokyo@marketnews.com
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