As crude oil prices continue to rise, the Liberal Democratic Party has put together an urgent proposal calling for a significant increase in subsidies to oil wholesalers, which have a maximum of 5 yen per liter in order to curb the rise in gasoline prices. I applied to the minister.
The Liberal Democratic Party held a joint meeting such as the Comprehensive Energy Strategy Study Group on the 18th, as crude oil prices continued to rise due to the influence of the situation in Ukraine, and summarized urgent proposals that included necessary measures.
After that, former Minister of Finance Fukushiro Nukaga, who is the chairman of the study group, met with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagita in the Diet and offered suggestions.
The recommendation is that the government will urgently allocate the necessary budget from the reserve fund of this year's budget for the subsidy to the oil wholesale company that the government has been implementing since last month to curb the rise in gasoline prices, and currently it is 5 yen per liter. The maximum amount of support should be significantly increased.
On the other hand, regarding the so-called "trigger clause", which suspends the taxation of about 25 yen per liter of gasoline tax, the clause has not been activated based on the cautious opinions within the government and the ruling party. However, we are requesting a review of the system so that we can provide more support than that.
In addition, Minister Hagiuda responded, "I would like to take appropriate measures," as the government also requested that the government support its own efforts such as subsidizing kerosene purchase costs.