| R 043 |
| 2018 -- H 7331 Enacted 01/30/2018 |
| 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, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY |
| Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Shekarchi, Morgan, McNamara, and Abney |
| Date Introduced: January 30, 2018 |
| 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 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, The United States and Taiwan, 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, The United states ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan |
| was the 10th largest trading partner of the United States in 2017, with bilateral trade in goods and |
| services from January to November, 2017, between the United States and Taiwan, amounting to |
| approximately $62.4 billion, and said trade has created or supported at least 322,728 U.S. jobs |
| according to the United States Department of Commerce; and |
| WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan of which |
| Rhode Island exported $101 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, fabricated |
| metal products, chemicals, and machinery, making Taiwan Rhode Island's 2nd largest export |
| market in Asia (2016), and Taiwan and the United States seek to increase trade and investment |
| through bilateral agreements, resulting in greater Rhode Island exports to Taiwan; and |
| WHEREAS, Taiwan has established reciprocal drivers' license agreements with 25 states |
| across the United States, including Massachusetts (2016), thereby facilitating and streamlining |
| the license conversion process and providing citizens of Taiwan and the various states with the |
| ease and convenience of being able to drive within Taiwan and the respective jurisdictions; 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 interest 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 seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Rhode |
| Island-Taiwan trade and investment relations, and supports Taiwan's participation in international |
| organizations and agreements, including the WHO, INTERPOL, UNFCCC and ICAO; 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 of the United States Congress; Governor Gina |
| Raimondo, President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China (Taiwan); and Scott Lai, Director-General |
| of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. |
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| LC004249 |
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