HR0875 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0875 LRB098 20413 MST 56144 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United States, in particular the State of Illinois, which shares sister-city and sister-state relationships, are marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges, and tourism; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, which is the world's 17th-largest economy, shares with the United States and the State of Illinois, the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and a commitment to the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, As of 2012, Taiwan is the United States' 11th-largest trading partner in the world, with bilateral trade worth US$63,000,000,000, the 16th-largest export market, with total U.S. exports worth US$24,400,000,000, the 6th-largest market for U.S. agricultural goods, and its 11th-largest source of imports; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship and anticipate continuing growth, as Illinois in 2012 continued to rank 5th among all U.S. states in the value of overall exports to Taiwan, then worth almost US$952,000,000, and Taiwan in 2012, ranked as Illinois' 16th-largest export destination, its 6th-largest market in Asia, and its 9th-largest source of imports; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has consistently imported more than US$3,500,000,000 of U.S. farm products annually and is the world's largest consumer per-capita of U.S. agricultural goods, including corn and soybeans, so vital to the Prairie State; while the Illinois economy has greatly benefited from Taiwan's reliably large imports of Illinois farm products, which in 2012 were worth US$553,500,000 and comprised more than 58% of Illinois's total exports to Taiwan that year; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, in order to contribute to greater regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region and to further promote bilateral investment and trade relations with the United States, Taiwan's third-largest trading partner, seeks to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the proposed 21st century trade agreement between the United States and currently 11 other Asia-Pacific Rim countries; the United States has announced its intention that membership in the TPP expand in the future to include other friendly countries, such as Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, an important economic power, a dynamic market economy, and leading supplier of high-tech products, is the 14th-largest exporter, and 16th-largest importer, worldwide; according to the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, Taiwan ranks as the world's 17th-freest economy, and 5th-freest among 42 economies in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and is deserving of greater participation and inclusion in wider regional economic integration; and

WHEREAS, Negotiations for a bilateral investment agreement between Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade and paving the way for entering into a free trade agreement between our 2 countries, thereby increasing Illinois's exports to Taiwan and creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan is grateful to the United States and, in particular, to the State of Illinois, for their support of Taiwan's efforts to participate in international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which bore fruit last year when the ICAO admitted Taiwan to attend the triennial ICAO Assembly in September of 2013 as a special guest, an encouraging first step as Taiwan uses this international mechanism to contribute to, and benefit from, the global strategy and effort to improve airline security and aviation safety; and

WHEREAS, Despite such modest successes, Taiwan's continued absence from international organizations, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has hampered Taiwan's ability to participate in global climate initiatives and to respond to natural disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in November of 2013, resulting in the deaths of more than 6,000 people, the displacement of almost 2 million people, and more than US$216,000,000 in economic damage to the Philippines's infrastructure and agriculture, and since Taiwan and the Philippines are geographically close and both are subject to the severe effects of typhoons, Taiwan should be allowed to participate appropriately in, and no longer be excluded from, the UNFCCC; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan can be a valuable and constructive partner in the international response to adverse effects of climate change and severe weather emergencies, as evidenced by Taiwan's speedy and generous response to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines through practical assistance by Taiwan government agencies, direct government aid, and total donations, including private donations, of approximately US$12,220,000 in cash and in-kind relief; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we affirm our commitment to the strong and deepening sister-city and sister-state relationships between Taiwan and the State of Illinois, and express continued support for Taiwan's efforts to secure entry to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we endorse the signing of a bilateral investment agreement with the United States and continue to welcome the U.S.-Taiwan trade talks, to promote Taiwan's bilateral investment and trade relations with the United States and facilitate its economic and other ties with Illinois and the individual states; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we extend our support for Taiwan's appropriate participation in international organizations, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), that impact the health, safety, and well-being of Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to United States Secretary of State John F. Kerry, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.