There was temporary confusion Thursday afternoon over whether the government would release a fresh economic package in response to a recent plunge in stock prices before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits the United States later this month.
Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa told reporters after an afternoon meeting with Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, that the package would be drawn up and released before Koizumi's trip.
"It is difficult to find steps that would have an immediate effect," he said, "but we should issue something."