2019 -- H 5320

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LC001302

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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 RELATIONS, CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT (TRA), AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Shekarchi, Mattiello, Edwards, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2019

     Referred To: House Small Business

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

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

values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a free market economy; and

     WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic

principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23.5 million people, promote Taiwan's

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

maintain peace in the Asia 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 celebrate 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, 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 the shared

interests of freedom and democracy, thereby assuring a bright future in our bilateral relationship;

and

     WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan

is the 11th largest trading partner of the U.S. in 2017, with bilateral trade in goods and services

between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $62 billion in 2018 (Jan.-

October), and said trade has created or supported approximately 322,728 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 $38 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, fabricated

metal products, chemicals, and machinery. Taiwan was Rhode Island's 6th largest export market

in Asia (2017); 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, Taiwan has established reciprocal driver's license agreements with 31 states

across the United States, including Rhode Island which was signed on September 6, 2018. In fact,

Taiwan was the first foreign government to enter into a reciprocal driver's license agreement with

Rhode Island, thereby granting mutual driving privileges in Taiwan and Rhode Island; 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) are in the

best interests 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 this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and

supports Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements, including the

WHO, INTERPOL, UNFCCC and ICAO, and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan

and Taiwan-Rhode Island trade and investment relations, and encourages the Rhode Island state

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government to further explore the possibility of opening a New England joint trade office in

Taipei to strengthen and promote bilateral trade between Taiwan and Rhode Island; 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 to the United States Congress, Governor Gina

Raimondo, State of Rhode Island, 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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