2014 -- H 7117

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LC003483

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND

TAIWAN, COMMENDING TAIWAN'S ROLE AS PEACEMAKER IN THE EAST CHINA

SEA, AND SUPPORTING BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND TAIWAN'S

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Keable, San Bento, E Coderre, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2014

     Referred To: House Corporations

     WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a most

important relationship supported by the common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and

a free market economy; and

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

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

Taiwan’s international standing, and to further improve relations between the United States and

Taiwan; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States share the common goal of peace in the East

China Sea. Taiwan proposed an East China Sea Peace Initiative on August 5, 2012, urging all

parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could escalate confrontation in the

region, shelve disputes, not abandon dialogue, and observe international law to resolve disputes in

a peaceful manner; and

     WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan, and especially Rhode Island, share a

historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural

exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is now a member of the United States Visa Waiver Program

(effective November 1, 2012), reflecting the friendship, trust, and cooperation shared between the

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

even more convenient; and  

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

the 11th largest trading partner of the United States. Bilateral trade in goods and services between

the United States and Taiwan was approximately $85 billion in 2013. New England exported $1.4

billion in goods to Taiwan of which Rhode Island exported $66 million in goods, mostly primary

metal manufacturing, manufactured commodities, machinery, and chemicals; and

     WHEREAS, Talks on the Taiwan-United States Trade and Investment Framework

Agreement (TIFA) resumed on March 10, 2013. Negotiations for a Bilateral Investment

Agreement (BIA) between Taiwan and the United States is an important step towards

strengthening bilateral trade and paving the way for entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

between our countries, thereby increasing Rhode Island’s exports to Taiwan and creating greater

bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and trade facilitation

measures; and

     WHEREAS, United States President Barack Obama and the leaders of eight Trans-

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

century TPP agreement on November 12, 2011, in which Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to

participate, so as to forge close linkages among economies, enhance competitiveness, and benefit

consumers; and

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

and the share of Rhode Island exported goods bound for TPP countries is 40 percent. In addition,

Rhode Island jobs supported by trade with TPP countries is estimated to be 51,200, with 1,783

companies exporting goods from Rhode Island in 2011, and 15 TPP companies with investments

in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 18th largest trading economy in the world and is a member of

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

cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and

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

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

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

UNFCCC, and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate in this global effort; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby reaffirms the friendship between Rhode Island and the Republic of China

(Taiwan), and commends Taiwan’s role as peacemaker in the East China Sea. We furthermore

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urge the signing of a United States-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) and Free Trade

Agreement so as to further strengthen Rhode Island-Taiwan trade relations, and support Taiwan’s

participation in international organizations and agreements, including the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Trans-Pacific Partnership; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the

United States; the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation; Governor Lincoln D. Chafee;

President Ma Ying-jeou, on behalf of the 23 million citizens of Taiwan; and Anne Hung,

Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.

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