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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois established a sister-state
3relationship with Taiwan, the Republic of China (R.O.C.) in
41992, and Illinois and Taiwan have enjoyed strong bilateral
5trade, educational and cultural exchanges, and tourism; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives established
7the Illinois Statehouse Taiwan Friendship Caucus on May 19,
82021, the first of its kind in the nation with bi-partisan
9support, which was commemorated by House Resolution No. 372 on
10June 1, 2021; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom,
12democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and
13prosperity with the United States and the State of Illinois;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's
16second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the eighth-largest
17trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade
18reached more than US$ 856 billion in 2021; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a
20long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of
21future growth, and Taiwan was Illinois's seventh-largest

 

 

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1export market in Asia in 2020 with US$ 673 million worth of
2Illinois goods exported to Taiwan; and
 
3    WHEREAS, To strengthen the Taiwan-Illinois bilateral
4economic relationship, it is essential to support Illinois
5businesses to enhance their economic engagement with Taiwan
6based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, Public Law 96-8,
722 USC 3301); as Article 4 Section b of the TRA stipulates that
8"wherever the laws of the United States refer or relate to
9foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar
10entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply
11with respect to Taiwan"; it is legitimate for Illinois
12businesses to refer to Taiwan as Taiwan in conducting their
13business ties with Taiwan; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement
15(BTA) between Taiwan and the United States are an important
16step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our
17countries, thereby increasing Illinois's exports to Taiwan and
18creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration
19through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation
20measures; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast
22diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable
23of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and to

 

 

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1collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of
2humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore, be
3it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6we reaffirm our commitment to the strengthening and deepening
7of the sister ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan,
8R.O.C.; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for the Taiwan
10Relations Act and support Illinois businesses referring to
11Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the
13signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United
14States and reiterate our support for a closer economic and
15trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan;
16and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's meaningful
18participation in international organizations that impact the
19health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan and
20support Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in
21international societies.