It has been learned that the government and ruling parties are making arrangements to omit an economic trigger clause from the related bill expected to be submitted to the extraordinary Diet session this autumn, concerning the consumption tax cut on food and beverages promoted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This was revealed by multiple government and ruling party officials, and it reflects Takaichi's strong will to restore the tax rate after two years. Takaichi has firmed up a policy to lower the consumption tax on food and beverages from the current 8 percent to 1 percent in April next year, and to provide benefits equivalent to the remaining 1 percent to low- and middle-income earners. By not including an economic trigger clause, the restoration of the tax rate will be legally clarified. A government official explained, 'Takaichi is determined to restore the tax rate after two years no matter what,' and a ruling party official also stated flatly, 'We will not include an economic trigger clause.'