TOKYO, (PNA/Kyodo) — Finance Minister Taro Aso expressed confidence Friday that the government will smoothly map out an economic stimulus package, despite lingering discord over whether to implement a corporate tax cut.
Aso, an opponent of the tax reduction, said he will meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later in the day to put the final touches to the package aimed at softening the potential impact on the economy of a planned sales tax hike to 8 percent from the current 5 percent next April.
While Abe appears eager to cut the corporate tax rate, Aso said at a press conference that the government “will settle” on an acceptable conclusion.