Inquiry into low-cost Chinese beer to take place: Minister

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) Taiwan's Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) said on Thursday that her ministry was set to launch an anti-dumping investigation into low-priced Chinese beer imports.

Responding to lawmakers' questions during a hearing before the Legislature's Finance Committee, Chuang said that she was aware that the Taiwan Brewers Association had sent out an application for an investigation. She added that the ministry would begin its inquiry within 30 days of receiving it.

In those 30 days, an interagency tariff commission would be convened to investigate, she added.

The Taiwan Brewers Association was established in 2024 by breweries including Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corp. (TTL), Heineken Taiwan, Taihu Brewing, Zhangmen Brewery and King Car Group.

Also at the hearing, TTL Chairman Tang Chi-an (湯期安) said that the price of rice cooking wine, classified as a consumer staple rather than an alcoholic drink, will be frozen through 2026.

Tang said that freezing the price of red-label rice cooking wine alone would result in an annual loss of NT$500 million (US$15.2 million), but that the company would work to make up the losses in other areas.

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