{"id":12438,"date":"2026-01-18T19:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T19:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lemonde.express\/japans-parties-mull-consumption-tax-cut-ahead-of-election\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T19:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T19:19:07","slug":"japans-parties-mull-consumption-tax-cut-ahead-of-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lemonde.express\/en\/japans-parties-mull-consumption-tax-cut-ahead-of-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan’s parties mull consumption tax cut ahead of election"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Politics<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Proposal to temporarily make food tax-free floated within ruling LDP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Jan. 16. (Photo by Ken Suzuki)<\/p>\n

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MIKI NOSE and RIEKO MIKI<\/p>\n

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January 19, 2026 01:06 JST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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TOKYO — A lowering of Japan’s 10% consumption tax is looking to become a key issue in the upcoming lower house election expected to take place Feb. 8, as ruling and opposition parties consider whether to include calls to reduce the tax’s burden in their campaign pledges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n