“暫緩調升消費税率到１０％”

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

“消費税率１０％への引き上げは先送りを”

11月4日 0時04分

安倍総理大臣に経済政策などを助言している浜田宏一内閣官房参与は、東京都内で記者団に対し、来年１０月に予定されている消費税率の１０％への引き上げは需要の面でマイナスだとして、先送りすべきだという考えを示しました。

この中で、浜田内閣官房参与は、来年１０月に予定されている消費税率の１０％への引き上げについて、「ひと言で言えば反対だ。アベノミクスが前に進もうと思えば、需要の面では消費税率の引き上げは向かい風になる。『引き上げを１年半、引き延ばすべきだ』と言っている本田内閣官房参与の意見に同調する」と述べ、需要の面でマイナスだとして、消費税率の引き上げは先送りすべきだという考えを示しました。
そのうえで、浜田氏は「皆さんは『消費税率を上げなかったら日本は売りたたかれる』と言うが、そういうことは起こらないだろうと思う。逆に『消費税をここで上げたら困る』と言っている海外の声のほうが多い」と指摘しました。

(試譯文)

Koichi Hamada, a special adviser to the cabinet who had participated in advising the economic policy of Prime Minister Abe, indicated to a press corps in Tokyo metropolitan area the idea that to increase the consumption tax to 10% which was scheduled for October of next year was a minus in terms of the needs, and that it should be postponed.

In this, about increasing the consumption tax to 10% which was scheduled for October next year, Hamada the special adviser to the cabinet stated that "when say in one word, I opposite it. When thinking about Abe-economics’ further development ahead, to increase consumption tariff would be against the wind in face of the needs. I side with the opinion of Honda, a special adviser to the cabinet who had said that ‘being raised for one and a half years, increase should be postponed’". Seeing it as a minus in a face of the needs, he indicated the idea that an increase in consumption tax should be postponed.

Furthermore, Mr. Hamada pointed out that "everyone has said ‘if the consumption tariff is not increased, Japan would be sold off’, but he thinks such a thing would not happen. Conversely, there is a lot of overseas voice saying that ‘if the consumption tax is increased here, there would be a problem’".

I am wondering what would be the latest official thinking in Japan after the recent elections, with Abe being re-elected as the Prime Minister.