2013 -- S 0109

=======

LC00589

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND

THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN), STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TRADE

RELATIONS, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Cote, Crowley, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2013

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

1-1

     WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share an important

1-2

relationship that is supported by our common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a

1-3

commitment to a free market economy; and

1-4

     WHEREAS, President Ma Ying-jeou has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic

1-5

principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 23 million people, promote Taiwan’s

1-6

international standing, and further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan; and

1-7

     WHEREAS, The United States, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and, especially, the

1-8

State of Rhode Island, share a historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade,

1-9

educational and cultural exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and

1-10

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is now a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (effective

1-11

November 1, 2012), reflecting the friendship, trust, and cooperation shared between our two

1-12

countries, and making travel between Taiwan and the United States for business and tourism even

1-13

more convenient; and  

1-14

     WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan’s 3rd largest trading partner and Taiwan

1-15

is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States. Bilateral trade in goods and services

1-16

between the United States and Taiwan reached $85 billion in 2011. New England exported

1-17

approximately $1.4 billion in goods to Taiwan, of which Rhode Island exported approximately

1-18

$54.5 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, miscellaneous manufactured

1-19

commodities, and chemicals; and

2-1

     WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between Taiwan

2-2

and the United States is an important step towards strengthening bilateral trade and paving the

2-3

way for entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between our countries, thereby increasing

2-4

Rhode Island’s exports to Taiwan and creating greater bilateral investment and technical

2-5

collaboration through tariff reduction and trade facilitation measures; and

2-6

     WHEREAS, President Barack Obama and the leaders of eight Trans-Pacific Partnership

2-7

(TPP) countries announced the achievement of the broad outlines for a 21st century TPP

2-8

agreement on November 12, 2011, and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate, so as

2-9

to forge close linkages among economies, enhance competitiveness, and benefit consumers; and

2-10

     WHEREAS, The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market in the world for the United

2-11

States’ exports and $1.1 billion of Rhode Island’s total exports went to markets in the Asia-

2-12

Pacific region.  In addition, jobs supported by the exporting of Rhode Island’s goods are

2-13

estimated to be 10,700, with the latest data indicating that 1,435 companies exported goods from

2-14

Rhode Island (2009); and

2-15

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 17th largest trading economy in the world and a member of the

2-16

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which promotes free trade and economic

2-17

cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and

2-18

     WHEREAS, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

2-19

is the world’s key instrument to deal with climate change.  A concerted global effort to combat

2-20

the challenges posed by climate change requires that Taiwan also be included in the work of the

2-21

UNFCCC, and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate in the global effort to address

2-22

this issue; and

2-23

     WHEREAS, It remains in the interest of the traveling public that Taiwan be included in

2-24

the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), since Taiwan is a key transport hub in the

2-25

Asia-Pacific region and the Taipei Flight Information Region (TAIPEI FIR) under Taiwan’s

2-26

jurisdiction covers an area of 176,000 square nautical miles with 1.35 million controlled flights

2-27

passing through the region annually; now, therefore be it

2-28

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

2-29

hereby reaffirms the friendship between our state and the Republic of China (Taiwan); and be it

2-30

further

2-31

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby urges the signing of a United States-Taiwan

2-32

Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) and Free Trade Agreement so as to further strengthen

2-33

Rhode Island-Taiwan trade relations, and supports Taiwan’s participation in international

2-34

organizations and agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

3-1

Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership; and be

3-2

it further

3-3

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

3-4

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Rhode

3-5

Island Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director-

3-6

General of the World Health Organization, and the Director-General of the Taipei Economic and

3-7

Cultural Office in Boston.

=======

LC00589

=======