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91_SJ0064
SRS91SJ0042ABsa
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The United States and the People's Republic of
3 China have entered into an historic U.S. - China trade
4 agreement which opens the door for China to join the World
5 Trade Organization (WTO); and
6 WHEREAS, China represents the fourth largest market in
7 the world for American goods and services and one of the top
8 ten markets in the world for goods and services produced in
9 the state of Illinois; and
10 WHEREAS, China is the largest country in the world with
11 over 1.4 billion people and is projected to be the second
12 largest economic force in the world within the next ten
13 years; and
14 WHEREAS, The U.S. - China Trade Agreement provides
15 unprecedented opportunities for workers, companies and
16 farmers across the state of Illinois and throughout our
17 country; and
18 WHEREAS, Key segments of the economy of Illinois
19 including farming, manufacturing, high technology,
20 telecommunications, insurance, chemicals and services stand
21 to benefit from increased trade with China; and
22 WHEREAS, China has agreed to reduce its average
23 industrial tariff from 35% to 10%, expand market access for
24 U.S. agricultural products, eliminate discriminatory taxes
25 and regulations, abolish trade - distorting export subsidies
26 and phase out protectionist quotas; and
27 WHEREAS, China's entry into the WTO requires it to
28 unilaterally open its markets and agree to play by the same
29 internationally accepted rules as other WTO members; and
30 WHEREAS, China's entry into the WTO will give the Chinese
-2- SRS91SJ0042ABsa
1 people more access to the outside world, opening Chinese
2 society to democratic ideals and principles; and
3 WHEREAS, United States must grant Permanent Normal Trade
4 Relations (PNTR) to China in order to enjoy the benefits of
5 China's membership in the WTO; and
6 WHEREAS, Failure of the United States to grant PNTR to
7 China will place the United States and the people of Illinois
8 at a competitive disadvantage with our trading competitors in
9 Europe, Asia and throughout the world who will have access to
10 the emerging China market; therefore, be it
11 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
12 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
13 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that this legislative body
14 strongly supports the addition of China into the World Trade
15 Organization; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, that the Illinois General Assembly respectfully
17 calls on the Illinois Congressional Delegation to pass
18 legislation granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations with
19 China at the earliest opportunity; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be
21 forwarded to each member of the Illinois Congressional
22 Delegation.