| R 168 |
| 2021 -- H 6199 Enacted 04/06/2021 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN, AND SUPPORTING ENHANCED BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND TAIWAN’S INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION |
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, Edwards, Kazarian, Fellela, Donovan, and Carson |
| Date Introduced: April 06, 2021 |
| WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a vibrant |
| bilateral relationship marked by a mutually beneficial partnership. Since 1979, the Taiwan |
| Relations Act has provided a strong foundation for sustaining substantive relations between the |
| United States and Taiwan, including Taiwan and Rhode Island through continued exchanges, |
| engagement, and cooperation rooted in our common values of freedom, democracy, the rule of |
| law, and a free market economy, thereby assuring a bright future in our bilateral relationship; and |
| WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen has worked tirelessly to safeguard democracy and |
| way of life in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 24 million people, and expressed |
| commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region; and |
| WHEREAS, The United States Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and State, in a |
| formal letter sent to the Governors of all 50 states dated September 30, 2019, stated that |
| "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"; 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 unanimously passing the |
| “Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI) of 2019” |
| (S.1678) on October 28, 2019, affirming that the "United States should emerge in bilateral trade |
| negotiations with Taiwan"; and |
| WHEREAS, The Taiwan Government has donated 135,000 surgical masks and 5,000 |
| N95 masks to the State of Rhode Island to assist in the fight in the fight against Covid-19, |
| demonstrating that Taiwan is a responsible stakeholder and shall be included in the World Health |
| Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA); 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 |
| amounting to approximately $90 billion in 2020, which helped create or support approximately |
| 373, 288 United States jobs; and |
| WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan in which |
| Rhode Island exported $24 million in goods, making Taiwan the 17th largest export market of |
| Rhode Island 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 agreements, and discussions of possibly opening a joint trade office in Taipei, to include |
| Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that will further enhance |
| bilateral trade opportunities and Rhode Island exports to Taiwan; and |
| WHEREAS, Being a key transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan’s inclusion in |
| international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Criminal |
| Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is |
| imperative for the best interest and safety of the international community. In addition, Taiwan’s |
| participation 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 hereby |
| supports a stronger United States-Taiwan relationship under the Biden Administration, including |
| the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), and seeks to further strengthen the Rhode |
| Island-Taiwan partnership, and encourages Rhode Island State Government to further explore |
| ways to strengthen and promote bilateral exchange between the State of Rhode Island and Taiwan |
| in all areas, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taiwan regarding |
| bilateral economic and trade exchange and cooperation; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House hereby supports Taiwan’s participation in international |
| organizations and agreements, including 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 Joseph R. Biden, President of the |
| United States, the Rhode Island Delegation to the United States Congress, the Honorable Daniel |
| McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China |
| (Taiwan), and Director-General Jonathan Sun, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. |
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| LC002639 |
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