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2013 -- S 0109 | |
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LC00589 | |
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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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REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND | |
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THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN), STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TRADE | |
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RELATIONS, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL | |
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ORGANIZATIONS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Cote, Crowley, and Walaska | |
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Date Introduced: January 23, 2013 | |
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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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