The Japanese Cabinet endorsed a bill Friday that paves the way for raising the country's 5 percent consumption tax. A clause in the bill leaves the timing of the tax hike subject to further review, Kyodo News reported. Prime Minister Taro Aso had previously insisted the sales tax should be raised by the 2011 fiscal year, but opposition to the tax hike by members of his own Liberal Democratic Party led to a compromise, the news service said. Aso directed Akira Amari, in charge of administrative reform, to study reforms to streamline the government to reduce wasteful spending.

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo Jul. 2--BRASILIA -- Japan and Brazil will later Wednesday agree on the enhancement of cooperation in biofuels and trade amid a sharp rise in prices of natural resources worldwide, Japanese officials said.

Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari indicated Friday that Teikoku Oil Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. would be the prime candidates to participate in joint natural gas development projects with China.

Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 20 June - Japan and China will have to create their own special laws for launching their joint gas exploration project in an untapped area in the northern East China Sea, industry minister Akira Amari said Friday.

Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, June 13 Kyodo - Japanese industry minister Akira Amari said Friday he will take part in an urgent international oil meeting in Saudi Arabia later this month to discuss how to deal with record- high crude oil prices.