[Intl-tobacco] Taiwan Mins To End Tobacco, Alcohol Monopoly July 1

[Robert Weissman]

Taiwan Mins To End Tobacco, Alcohol Monopoly July 1
Source: Dow Jones News Service, Friday, 4/20/01

  TAIPEI (Dow Jones)--Taiwan's Finance Ministry, Economic Affairs Ministry
and Council for Agriculture jointly decided to open the production of
tobacco and alcohol products to the private sector on July 1, said a
Finance Ministry official Friday.

The decision still must be approved by the Cabinet, said Cheng Yu-po,
deputy director at the Finance Ministry's Department of National Treasury.

The production of tobacco and alcohol products is now monopolized by
state-run Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Board and some state-owned distilleries on
Taiwan's offshore islands.

The government has pledged to end the monopoly as part of its bid to join
the World Trade Organization.