The Environment Ministry on Tuesday released a revised version of its carbon tax plan, aimed at discouraging fossil fuel use so Japan can fulfill its Kyoto Protocol obligation to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.
The ministry had submitted an environment tax proposal last year to the Tax Commission but discussion was postponed mainly due to strong opposition from the business community.
What differentiates the new proposal from the previous one is the levy would not be imposed on gasoline, light oil and jet fuel for the time being, given the current high price of crude oil, according to the ministry.