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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In 1992, the State of Illinois established a
3sister-state relationship with Taiwan, the Republic of China
4(R.O.C.); since that time, Illinois and Taiwan have enjoyed
5strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges,
6and tourism; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom,
8democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and
9prosperity with the State of Illinois and the United States;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's
12second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the ninth-largest
13trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade
14reaching more than US$ 160 billion in 2022; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Taiwan imported nearly US$ 4.4 billion worth of
16U.S. farm products in 2022, making it the seventh largest
17market for U.S. agricultural products overall, the fourth
18largest market on a per capita basis among the top 10 U.S.
19agricultural export destinations, and the seventh largest
20market for U.S. soybeans and corn individually; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Due to its high quality produce, the U.S. remains

 

 

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1one of Taiwan's largest sources of agricultural products,
2supplying more than one-fifth of the country's major
3agricultural imports; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a
5long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of
6future growth; Taiwan was Illinois' fifth-largest export
7market in Asia in 2022, with US$ 876 million worth of Illinois
8goods exported to Taiwan; and
 
9    WHEREAS, To strengthen the Taiwan-Illinois bilateral
10economic relationship, it is essential to support Illinois
11businesses to enhance their economic engagement with Taiwan
12based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, Public Law 96-8,
1322 U.S.C. 3301); Article 4, Section b of the TRA stipulates
14that "wherever the laws of the United States refer or relate to
15foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar
16entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply
17with respect to Taiwan"; it is legitimate for Illinois
18businesses to refer to Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan in conducting
19their business ties with Taiwan; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement
21(BTA), the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and
22the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)
23between Taiwan and the United States are an important step

 

 

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1toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our
2countries, thereby increasing Illinois' exports to Taiwan and
3creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration
4through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation
5measures; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast
7diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable
8of fulfilling, and willing to fulfill, its responsibilities
9and to collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges
10of humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore,
11be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm our
14commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister
15ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan, R.O.C.; and be
16it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for the Taiwan
18Relations Act (TRA) and support Illinois businesses to refer
19to Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the
21signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Avoidance of
22Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and the Indo-Pacific

 

 

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1Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with the United
2States, and we reiterate our support for a closer economic and
3trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan;
4and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's meaningful
6participation in international organizations, such as the
7United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the
8International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United
9Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the
10International Criminal Police Organization - INTERPOL
11(ICPO-INTERPOL), which impact the health, safety, and
12well-being of the people of Taiwan, and we support Taiwan's
13aspiration to make more contributions in international
14societies.