Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) The government is working on a presentation of evidence to show that imported distilled spirits will never be affected by the recent tax cut on rice wine in Taiwan because the latter is used almost exclusively as a cooking ingredient and is seldom drunk, Ministry of Economic Affairs officials said Saturday.

If necessary, the government will send representatives to the United States and the European Union to explain why it has slashed the tax on locally produced rice wine, the officials said.

On Aug. 19, the Legislative Yuan approved a revision to the Tobacco and Alcohol Tax Act allowing a cut in the tax on rice wine to NT$5.4 (US$0.16) per 0.6-liter bottle from NT$29.5.    more …