Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation says it has stepped in to buy over 20,000 bottles of dark rum, after a shipment from Lithuania failed to receive Chinese customs clearance.
Lithuanian authorities have faced intense pressure from China after Taiwan and Lithuania announced they would open representative offices in each others’ countries. In early December, reports suggest Chinese authorities deleted Lithuania from China’s customs registry, temporarily halting all imports from the Baltic state.
China reversed the move days later, but authorities continue to deny customs clearance to some cargo ships at Chinese ports.
Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation says it bought a shipment of 20,400 bottles of Propeller dark rum, made by the Lithuanian company MV Group, after hearing that the shipment was facing custom difficulties. The rum had been due to arrive in China on December 29.
The corporation says the shipment will arrive in Taiwan early this month, and will be available in stores as soon as the company has reprinted the Chinese packaging.