Japan finance minister says no tax cuts for time being to counter pandemic

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday he was not considering tax cuts, including a reduction in the sales tax, for the time being as a way of easing the economic pain from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Japan’s fiscal condition is in a severe state and will likely turn more dire due to the pandemic,” Aso told parliament.

“Cutting tax isn’t something I have in mind for the time being,” Aso said, when asked by a lawmaker whether the government could cut tax as part of efforts to support an economy suffering from the fallout of the pandemic.