2020 -- S 2719

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LC004849

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN,

SUPPORTING THE ENHANCEMENT OF BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Picard, Nesselbush, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2020

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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

important bilateral relationship marked by a mutually beneficial partnership, supported by our

common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a free market economy. Our two

countries now enjoy the strongest relations they have ever had; and

     WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen, re-elected on January 11, 2020, for a second- term

in a direct, open, and democratic election, has worked tirelessly to uphold constitutional

principles and a civil society in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people,

promote international standing, and expressed commitment to peace and understanding in the

Indo-Pacific region; and

     WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo congratulated President

Tsai Ing-wen on winning re-election and further stated that Taiwan and the United states are

“members of the same community of democracies” and that Taiwan is a “model for the Indo-

Pacific region and a force for good in the world” in a press statement on January 11, 2020; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Departments of Commerce, Agriculture and State

clarified United States policy regarding Taiwan in a formal letter sent to the Governors of all fifty

states dated September 30, 2019, which stated that “expanding relations with Taiwan in areas

such as trade, education, investment, and tourism is fully compatible with and supports United

States policy and can be beneficial to your state and municipality”; and

     WHEREAS, The Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and State further stated that

“Our Departments encourage cooperation with Taiwan” and also noted that “Taiwan is a vital

United States partner and democratic success story”; and

     WHEREAS, President Tsai has expressed Taiwan’s desire to reach a Bilateral Trade

Agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the United States Senate passed the “Taiwan Allies

International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI) of 2019” (S.1678) on October

28, 2019, affirming that the “United States should engage in bilateral trade negotiations with

Taiwan,” and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rhode Island and Taiwan

regarding economic and trade exchange and cooperation that will promote bilateral trade; and

     WHEREAS, The SARS pandemic in 2003 and now, since multiple cases of the novel

coronavirus-nCoV have been diagnosed in the United States since January, 2020, make it

imperative that Taiwan be included in the crucial network of the World Health Organization

(WHO), and the World Health Assembly (WHA) in the global effort to contain, prevent, and

combat the spread of such viruses; and

     WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan’s 2nd largest trade partner, and Taiwan

is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade in goods and services

between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $85.5 billion in 2019, and

said trade has created or supported approximately 373,288 United States jobs according to the

United States Department of Commerce; and

     WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan in which

Rhode Island exported $31.1 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing,

chemicals, computer and electronic products, making Taiwan Rhode Island’s 17th largest export

market in the world and the 6th largest export market in Asia (2018). Taiwan and the United

States seek to increase trade and investment through bilateral trade agreements, resulting in even

greater Rhode Island exports to Taiwan, educational and culture exchange, scientific and

technological interests, and tourism; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 18th largest global market and its inclusion in international

organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Criminal Police

Organization (INTERPOL), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is in the

best interest and safety of the international community. Taiwan is a key transport hub for

international air travel and a large flight path in the Asia-Pacific remains under Taiwan’s

jurisdiction. In addition, Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) is necessary in the global effort to combat climate change; now,

therefore be it

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

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hereby seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Taiwan-Rhode Island trade and

investment relations, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on trade, and

encourages the Rhode Island State Government to further explore ways in which to strengthen

and promote bilateral trade between Taiwan and Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby supports Taiwan’s participation in international

organizations and agreements, including the WHO, WHA, INTERPOL, UNFCCC and ICAO;

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 Donald J. Trump, President of

the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic

of China (Taiwan), and Douglas Y.T. Hsu, Director-General of the Tapei Economic Cultural

Office of Boston.

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LC004849

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