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Japan’s govt finalises $19 billion extra budget to subsidise surging fuel costs

By Thomson Reuters Jun 2, 2026 | 6:47 PM

TOKYO, June 3 (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government ​on Wednesday finalised ‌a $19 billion supplementary budget for this fiscal year to cushion the impact ‌of ​rising energy ⁠costs on households ⁠amid the risk of a prolonged Middle East crisis.

The 3.1 ​trillion yen ($19.47 billion) extra budget will ⁠be funded ⁠entirely through deficit-financing ​bonds, with the government ​seeking to avoid increasing overall ‌bond issuance to the market by offsetting it with ⁠stronger tax revenues and non-tax income.

The additional spending will ⁠primarily ‌replenish contingency reserves ⁠used to subsidise ​gasoline ‌costs and utility ​bills as ⁠tensions in the Middle East continue.

($1 = 159.9200 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Himani ​Sarkar)