13-R040

2013 -- S 0158

Enacted 01/31/13

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 30, 2013

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

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

commitment to a free market economy; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

more convenient; and  

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

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

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

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

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

commodities, and chemicals; and

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

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

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

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

collaboration through tariff reduction and trade facilitation measures; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rhode Island (2009); and

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

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

cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and

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

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

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

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

this issue; and

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

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

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

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

passing through the region annually; now, therefore be it

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

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

further

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

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

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

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

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

it further

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

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

Island Congressional Delegation, the President of the Republic of China, and the Director-

General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.

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LC00784

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