Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1013

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

supporting a closer partnership between the United States and Taiwan in trade and exchanges of officials and supporting taiwan's international participation.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, 2019 is the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides the legal basis for the substantial, robust and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan; and

Whereas, the Taiwan Travel Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 16, 2018, allows officials at all levels of the federal government to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts and allows high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States under conditions that demonstrate appropriate respect to such officials; and

Whereas, the trade in goods and services between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) totaled an estimated $86.2 billion in 2017.  Taiwan is the eleventh largest trading partner with the United States, supporting more than 330,000 jobs; and

Whereas, Taiwan was Arizona's tenth largest export market in 2017, reaching $493 million in exports to Taiwan originating from Arizona. In total, 5,500 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 between the United States and Taiwan would foster a more open and fair trade environment and create greater export and investment opportunities between markets, stimulating mutual economic growth and significantly increasing jobs for both countries; and

Whereas, Arizona has maintained a strong economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan since establishing sister-state relations in 1980, and the Arizona Legislature has passed resolutions supporting the U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement and the Bilateral Investment Agreement; 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 supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including INTERPOL, and in United Nations-specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization, the ICAO and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Therefore

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

1.  That the Members of the Legislature support the negotiation of a United States-Taiwan bilateral trade agreement and Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature acknowledge 40 years of achievements made by the United States and Taiwan in the fields of economy, trade, technology, education, culture and security since passage of the Taiwan Relations Act and encourage continued bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in the future.

3.  That the Members of the Legislature support a future official visit to Taiwan by the Governor of Arizona at his discretion.

4.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Arizona, the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the United States Trade Representative and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.