REFERENCE TITLE: Taiwan trade; support

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1027

Introduced by Senators Yee: Barto, Gray, Kavanagh; Representatives Clodfelter, Cook

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

supporting a taiwan-united states bilateral trade agreement and taiwan's participation in international organizations.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the trade in goods and services between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) totaled an estimated $65.3 billion in 2016, with $37.85 billion in exports and $27.45 billion in imports, ranking Taiwan as the tenth largest trading partner of the United States. Overall, Taiwan supports an estimated 329,853 jobs in the United States; and

Whereas, Taiwan became Arizona's seventh largest export market in 2016, reaching $396.87 million in total United States exports to Taiwan originating from Arizona. More than sixty-eight percent of total exports to Taiwan derive from Arizona's robust industries, including machinery, computer and electronic products. In total, 5,524 jobs in Arizona are supported by Taiwanese-affiliated companies and the exports of goods and services to Taiwan; and

Whereas, the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the United States and Taiwan would foster a more open and fair trade environment, thereby creating greater export and investment opportunities between markets.  Negotiating a BTA would be a win-win strategy that will not only stimulate mutual economic growth, but will also significantly increase more jobs for both countries; and

Whereas, Arizona maintains a strong economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan since establishing sister-state relations on July 28, 1980. Arizona has proudly passed resolutions supporting the US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement or the Bilateral Investment Agreement in the past four years; and

Whereas, on July 12, 2013, the President of the United States signed into law H.R. 1151, an act supporting Taiwan's participation as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). On March 18, 2016, the President of the United States signed into law S. 2426, an act directing the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); and

Whereas, the Arizona Legislature passed resolutions in support of Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including INTERPOL, and United Nations specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization, the ICAO and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), respectively in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature support the negotiation of a United States-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement and support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.