HR1570LRB096 24658 KXB 44597 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Turkey has the 17th largest economy in the world 
3and is a founding member of the Organisation for Economic 
4Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Twenty 
5(G-20); and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Turkey has signed 16 free trade agreements with 
7several countries and the European Free Trade Association, and 
814 of those agreements are in effect; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Turkey is in negotiations to enter into free trade 
10agreements with several other countries, including Canada, 
11Lebanon, South Africa, and Mexico; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, United States exports account for 6.09 percent of 
13goods that enter Turkey; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Closer relations with Turkey through free trade 
15agreements would encourage further privatization in Turkey's 
16economy; and
 
17    WHEREAS, From 2000 to 2009 Turkey's imports posted a 158 
18percent increase and imports from free trade agreement 
19countries increased by 118 percent; and
  
 
 
 
HR1570- 2 -LRB096 24658 KXB 44597 r

1    WHEREAS, Turkey is a democratic, secular, unitary, 
2constitutional republic, with an ancient cultural heritage and 
3westward-looking future; therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
5NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
6support the passage of United States House Resolution 1748,  
7urging the United States to initiate negotiations to enter into 
8a bilateral free trade agreement with Turkey.