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2013 -- S 0632 | |
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LC01975 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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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 | |
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RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT GOVERNOR CHAFEE, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE | |
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COALITION OF NORTHEASTERN GOVERNORS, EXPLORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF | |
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A NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE IN TAIPEI, | |
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TAIWAN | |
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Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Walaska, Cote, Sosnowski, and Sheehan | |
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Date Introduced: March 06, 2013 | |
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Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs | |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan, the United States, and, in particular, the state of Rhode Island share |
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a historical and close relationship; and |
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WHEREAS, Together they share the common values of freedom, democracy, human |
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rights, and rule of law; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan's relationship with the United States is marked by strong bilateral |
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trade and educational and cultural exchanges, including vibrant tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, Total U.S. trade with Taiwan in 2011 was $67.2 billion, making Taiwan the |
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10th largest U.S. trading partner; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan was the United States' 13th largest goods export market in 2011, |
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purchasing in excess of $26 billion of goods and services; and |
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WHEREAS, The Taiwan market is a key priority for state export promotion programs, |
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with 14 states maintaining trade offices in Taipei; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. International Trade Commission and the Institute for International |
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Economics estimate that a U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade agreement would increase U.S. exports to |
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Taiwan by the amount of $3 billion to $6 billion; and |
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island's 2011 exports to Taiwan stand at $55 million or 2.4 percent |
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of total state export, having grown 223 percent since 2008, with strong potential for further |
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growth; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Commerce Department reported that in 2011, 290,000 travelers |
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from Taiwan spent over $1.1 billion in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan's recent participation in the United States Visa Waiver Program, |
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which enables Taiwan's citizens to travel to the United States for tourism or business stays of 90 |
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days or less, without a visa, increases tourism and business; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Taiwan and Rhode Island look forward to an even stronger |
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friendship and business relationship over the next several decades; 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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respectfully requests that Governor Lincoln Chafee, as 2013 Chairman of the Coalition of |
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Northeastern Governors ("CONEG"), explore the establishment of a New England Regional |
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Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Taiwan, focused upon facilitation of two-way trade, |
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tourism, and investment between Taiwan and the New England States; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Lincoln Chafee, Governor of |
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Rhode Island, The Honorable Anne Hung, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural |
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Office in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Coalition of Northeastern Governors. |
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LC01975 | |
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