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1
SENATE 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, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom,
7democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and
8prosperity with the United States and the State of Illinois;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's
11second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the eighth-largest
12trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade
13reached more than US$ 856 billion in 2021; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a
15long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of
16future growth, and Taiwan was Illinois's seventh-largest
17export market in Asia in 2020 with US$ 673 million worth of
18Illinois goods exported to Taiwan; and
 
19    WHEREAS, To strengthen the Taiwan-Illinois bilateral
20economic relationship, it is essential to support Illinois
21businesses to enhance their economic engagement with Taiwan

 

 

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1based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, Public Law 96-8,
222 USC 3301); as Article 4 Section b of the TRA stipulates that
3"wherever the laws of the United States refer or relate to
4foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar
5entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply
6with respect to Taiwan"; it is legitimate for Illinois
7businesses to refer to Taiwan as Taiwan in conducting their
8business ties with Taiwan; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement
10(BTA) between Taiwan and the United States are an important
11step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our
12countries, thereby increasing Illinois's exports to Taiwan and
13creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration
14through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation
15measures; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast
17diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable
18of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and to
19collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of
20humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore, be
21it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
23ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm our

 

 

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1commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister
2ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan, R.O.C.; and be
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for the Taiwan
5Relations Act and support Illinois businesses referring to
6Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the
8signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United
9States and reiterate our support for a closer economic and
10trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan;
11and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's meaningful
13participation in international organizations that impact the
14health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan and
15support Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in
16international societies.