2013 -- S 0109

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LC00589

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND

THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN), STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TRADE

RELATIONS, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATIONS

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Cote, Crowley, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2013

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share an important

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relationship that is supported by our common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a

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commitment to a free market economy; and

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

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

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international standing, and further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan; and

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     WHEREAS, The United States, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and, especially, the

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State of Rhode Island, share a historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade,

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educational and cultural exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan is now a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (effective

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November 1, 2012), reflecting the friendship, trust, and cooperation shared between our two

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

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more convenient; and  

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

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is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States. Bilateral trade in goods and services

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between the United States and Taiwan reached $85 billion in 2011. New England exported

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approximately $1.4 billion in goods to Taiwan, of which Rhode Island exported approximately

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$54.5 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, miscellaneous manufactured

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commodities, and chemicals; and

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     WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between Taiwan

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and the United States is an important step towards strengthening bilateral trade and paving the

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way for entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between our countries, thereby increasing

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Rhode Island’s exports to Taiwan and creating greater bilateral investment and technical

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collaboration through tariff reduction and trade facilitation measures; and

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     WHEREAS, President Barack Obama and the leaders of eight Trans-Pacific Partnership

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

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agreement on November 12, 2011, and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate, so as

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to forge close linkages among economies, enhance competitiveness, and benefit consumers; and

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

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States’ exports and $1.1 billion of Rhode Island’s total exports went to markets in the Asia-

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Pacific region.  In addition, jobs supported by the exporting of Rhode Island’s goods are

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estimated to be 10,700, with the latest data indicating that 1,435 companies exported goods from

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Rhode Island (2009); and

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 17th largest trading economy in the world and a member of the

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

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cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and

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

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

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

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UNFCCC, and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate in the global effort to address

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this issue; and

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     WHEREAS, It remains in the interest of the traveling public that Taiwan be included in

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the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), since Taiwan is a key transport hub in the

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Asia-Pacific region and the Taipei Flight Information Region (TAIPEI FIR) under Taiwan’s

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jurisdiction covers an area of 176,000 square nautical miles with 1.35 million controlled flights

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passing through the region annually; now, therefore be it

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

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hereby reaffirms the friendship between our state and the Republic of China (Taiwan); and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby urges the signing of a United States-Taiwan

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Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) and Free Trade Agreement so as to further strengthen

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Rhode Island-Taiwan trade relations, and supports Taiwan’s participation in international

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organizations and agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

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Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership; and be

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it further

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

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Rhode

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Island Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director-

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General of the World Health Organization, and the Director-General of the Taipei Economic and

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Cultural Office in Boston.

     

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LC00589

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S0109