2020 -- H 7992 | |
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LC005239 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN, | |
ENHANCING BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN THE | |
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Abney, and Filippi | |
Date Introduced: March 11, 2020 | |
Referred To: House read and passed | |
1 | WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a most |
2 | important bilateral relationship marked by a mutually beneficial partnership, supported by our |
3 | common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a free market economy, and our |
4 | countries now enjoy the strongest relations ever; and |
5 | WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen, re-elected on January 11, 2020, for a second-term in |
6 | a direct, open, and democratic election, has worked tirelessly to uphold constitutional principles |
7 | and civil society in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people, promote |
8 | international standing, and has expressed commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific |
9 | region; and |
10 | WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States, and especially Rhode Island, share a |
11 | historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural |
12 | exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and |
13 | WHEREAS, In 2019, the United States and Taiwan celebrated the 40th Anniversary of |
14 | the Taiwan Relations Act-TRA (Pub. L., 96-8, 22 U.S.C. 3301) enacted on April 10, 1979, “to |
15 | help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific and to promote the foreign |
16 | policy of the United States by authorizing the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other |
17 | relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan, and for other |
18 | purposes”; and |
19 | WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo congratulated President |
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1 | Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election in January and further stated that Taiwan and the United States |
2 | are “members of the same community of democracies” and that Taiwan is a “model for the Indo- |
3 | Pacific region and a force for good in the world”; and |
4 | WHEREAS, The United States Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and State |
5 | clarified United States policy regarding Taiwan in a formal letter sent to the Governors of the 50 |
6 | States, dated September 30, 2019, that stated “expanding relations with Taiwan in areas such as |
7 | trade, education, investment, and tourism is fully compatible with and supports U.S. policy and |
8 | can be beneficial to your state or municipality” and further stated that “Our Departments |
9 | encourage cooperation with Taiwan” by noting that “Taiwan is a vital U.S. partner and |
10 | democratic success story”; and |
11 | WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed Taiwan’s desire to reach a bilateral |
12 | trade agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the United States Senate unanimously passed |
13 | the “Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI) of 2019” |
14 | (S.1678) on October 28, 2019, affirming that the “United States should engage in bilateral trade |
15 | negotiations with Taiwan” and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rhode Island |
16 | and Taiwan regarding economic and trade exchange and cooperation that will promote bilateral |
17 | trade; and |
18 | WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan’s 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan |
19 | is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade in goods and services |
20 | between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $85.5 billion in 2019, and |
21 | said trade has created or supported approximately 373,288 U.S. jobs according to the U.S. |
22 | Department of Commerce; and |
23 | WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan, of which |
24 | Rhode Island exported $31.1 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, |
25 | chemicals, computer and electronic products, making Taiwan Rhode Island’s 17th largest export |
26 | market in the world and the 6th largest export market in Asia (2018); and |
27 | WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States seek to increase trade and investment through |
28 | bilateral trade agreements, resulting in even greater Rhode Island exports to Taiwan, educational |
29 | and cultural exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and |
30 | WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 18th largest global market and its inclusion in international |
31 | organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly |
32 | (WHA) in the global effort to contain, combat and prevent the spread of such viruses as the novel |
33 | coronavirus 2019-nCoV, as well as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), |
34 | and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is in the best interest and safety of the |
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1 | international community; and |
2 | WHEREAS, Taiwan is a key transport hub for international air travel and a large flight |
3 | path in the Asia-Pacific remains under Taiwan’s jurisdiction. In addition, Taiwan’s inclusion in |
4 | the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is necessary in the |
5 | global effort to combat climate change; now, therefore be it |
6 | RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
7 | Providence Plantations hereby seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Taiwan- |
8 | Rhode Island trade and investment relations, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) |
9 | on trade, and encourages the Executive branch of Rhode Island State Government to further |
10 | explore ways in which to strengthen and promote bilateral trade between Taiwan and Rhode |
11 | Island; and be it further |
12 | RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby supports Taiwan’s participation |
13 | in international organizations and agreements, including the WHO, WHA, INTERPOL, |
14 | UNFCCC and ICAO; and be it further |
15 | RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
16 | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution, to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of |
17 | the United States; the Rhode Island Delegation of the United States Congress; Governor Gina |
18 | Raimondo; President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China (Taiwan); and Douglas Y.T. Hsu, |
19 | Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. |
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LC005239 | |
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