R 178
2020 -- H 7992
Enacted 03/11/2020

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

Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Abney, and Filippi
Date Introduced: March 11, 2020

     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, and our
countries now enjoy the strongest relations ever; 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 civil society in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people, promote
international standing, and has expressed commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific
region; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States, 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, In 2019, the United States and Taiwan celebrated the 40th Anniversary of
the Taiwan Relations Act-TRA (Pub. L., 96-8, 22 U.S.C. 3301) enacted on April 10, 1979, “to
help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific and to promote the foreign
policy of the United States by authorizing the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other
relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan, and for other
purposes”; and
     WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo congratulated President
Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election in January 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”; 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 the 50
States, dated September 30, 2019, that stated “expanding relations with Taiwan in areas such as
trade, education, investment, and tourism is fully compatible with and supports U.S. policy and
can be beneficial to your state or municipality” and further stated that “Our Departments
encourage cooperation with Taiwan” by noting that “Taiwan is a vital U.S. partner and
democratic success story”; and
     WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed Taiwan’s desire to reach a bilateral
trade agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the United States Senate unanimously 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 United States ranks as Taiwan’s 2nd largest trading 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 U.S. jobs according to the U.S.
Department of Commerce; and
     WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan, of 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); and
      WHEREAS, 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 cultural 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) and the World Health Assembly
(WHA) in the global effort to contain, combat and prevent the spread of such viruses as the novel
coronavirus 2019-nCoV, as well as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL),
and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is in the best interest and safety of the
international community; and
     WHEREAS, 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 this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations 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 Executive branch of 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 House of Representatives 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 Delegation of the United States Congress; Governor Gina
Raimondo; President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China (Taiwan); and Douglas Y.T. Hsu,
Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.
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LC005239
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