TOKYO -- Shochu makers eager to take advantage of the dismantling of import barriers by the U.S. and Europe are instead running into a serious regulatory roadblock at home.
Late last year, the U.S. eased import regulations on the size of shochu bottles, allowing distillers to ship spirits in their traditional 720-milliliter and 1.8-liter bottles. Previously, they had to rebottle their liquid exports, a requirement many considered a non-tariff barrier.
