Tokyo to Delay City Fuel Tax on Weak Growth, Tokyo Shimbun Says

By Masaki Kondo

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Tokyo may postpone implementing a municipal tax on consumption of fossil fuels as the global financial crisis take a toll on Japan's economy, the Tokyo Shimbun reported today.

Advisers to Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara will recommend delaying introduction of the so-called environment tax, aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, the Japanese-language newspaper said, without saying where it obtained the information.

The advisory panel will instead urge tax breaks for businesses and households that lower energy consumption, according to the report.

To contact the reporters on this story: Masaki Kondo in Tokyo at mkondo3@bloomberg.net