Car owners can expect a break at the pump in the near future if the Democratic Party of Japan makes good on its threat to block a government-backed bill to extend higher rates on road-related taxes that expire March 31.
Both the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition and the government have been desperately looking for ways to keep in place the special tax rates, revenues from which are used exclusively to fund road construction.
The ruling bloc and the DPJ-led opposition camp, however, failed to come to an agreement on the tax reform bill Tuesday afternoon in the opposition-controlled Upper House. The bill includes a clause to extend the provisional auto-related tax rates for another 10 years.