Japan to tell G-20 it will raise sales tax as planned: Finance minister

This file picture taken on June 28, 2013 shows Japanese finance and deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso at a press conference in Tokyo. Japan will tell G-20 nations at a summit this week that it plans to go ahead with a two-stage sales tax hike from next
This file picture taken on June 28, 2013 shows Japanese finance and deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso at a press conference in Tokyo. Japan will tell G-20 nations at a summit this week that it plans to go ahead with a two-stage sales tax hike from next year, Mr Aso said on Tuesday. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan will tell G-20 nations at a summit this week that it plans to go ahead with a two-stage sales tax hike from next year, Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday.

If the government were to raise the sales tax as planned, it will consider compiling an extra budget and submit relevant bills to parliament early next year for fiscal spending to cushion any impact on the economy, Mr Aso told a news conference.

Mr Aso will accompany Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Group of 20 summit to be held this week in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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