Japan: Fuel Tax Returns During "Golden Week"
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
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Japan's ruling coalition is set
to approve a bill through parliament this week (Wednesday) restoring a tax of
25.1 yen (us$0.24cents) a litre on fuel in the middle of "Golden Week" a special period of national holidays, despite opposition by many
motorists.
Long lines of cars formed at petrol stations across the
country ahead of the expected move as drivers took advantage of
the lower prices in the midst of Golden Week -- a string of three
national holidays spread over a week that is a popular time for
travel.
Tempers frayed at one petrol station near Osaka, where a man
was arrested for threatening another driver after jumping a fuel
queue on Tuesday. Aggravating the issue, record global oil prices mean the
price of petrol will likely jump by 30 yen after the tax is
restored on Thursday, according to local Japanese media.
PetrolWorld reported last week on a warning issued by the Japanese Petroleum Association that stated such a tax combined with rising high fuel prices could create a fuel shortage.
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