The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not start full-fledged debate on possible increases in the consumption tax until the fall of next year, Finance Minister Koji Omi said at a news conference Tuesday.
The remark suggests the Abe Cabinet will shelve debate on tax hikes, including the consumption tax, ahead of the Upper House election next summer.
Omi said the government should focus on spurring growth and revitalizing business to improve public finances, citing Abe's campaign slogan, "No economic growth, no fiscal reconstruction."