China’s Ministry of Transport said it would relax its rules and allow container shipping companies that operate services across the Taiwan Strait to carry goods originating from outside Greater China, reported Dow Jones.

Taiwanese and mainland Chinese container shipping lines can also carry empty boxes that belong to, or are rented by companies that don't have approval to operate direct cross-strait shipping links, the ministry added. No details were published on when the new rules would take effect.

Taiwan and China established direct cross-strait shipping links in December 2008, but only Taiwanese and Chinese ships registered in Greater China are allowed to operate services, and cargo has been limited to goods originating from Taiwan or China.