REFERENCE TITLE: United States; Taiwan; partnership

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

SCR 1029

Introduced by

Senator Leach

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

supporting taiwan's international participation and a closer partnership between the united states and taiwan in trade and exchanges of officials.

(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 $103.9 billion in 2019, with $42.3 billion in exports and $61.6 billion in imports, ranking Taiwan as the tenth largest trading partner of the United States. Overall, Taiwan supports an estimate of more than 373,288 jobs in the United States; and

Whereas, 157 Members of Congress signed a letter to United States Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer on December 19, 2019, while 50 United States Senators signed a separate letter to him on October 1, 2020, encouraging the United States government to work towards initiating negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan, which would foster a more open and fair trade environment, thereby creating greater export and investment opportunities between the two countries; and

Whereas, Taiwan was Arizona's fifteenth largest export market in 2019, reaching $505.2 million in total United States exports to Taiwan originating from Arizona. In total, more than 5,895 jobs in Arizona are supported by Taiwanese affiliated companies and the exports of goods and services to Taiwan; and

Whereas, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company plans to invest $12 billion in an advanced 5-nanometer fab in Phoenix, Arizona, anticipated to begin construction in 2021, with chip production slated to start by 2024. This new factory will create 1,900 full-time jobs in Arizona over a five-year period; 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); and

Whereas, 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, on March 26, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law S. 1678, an act stating that it should be the policy of the United States to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership in all international organizations in which statehood is not a requirement and in which the United States is also a participant, as well as for Taiwan to be granted observer status in other appropriate international organizations; and

Whereas, Taiwan has received global recognition as a success story in combating COVID-19 and can provide indispensable expertise and humanitarian aid to affected states in America, including Arizona. Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Organization (WHO) will benefit the entire human race; and

Whereas, the Arizona State Legislature passed resolutions in support of Taiwan's participation in international organizations including INTERPOL, and United Nations specialized agencies such as the WHO, the ICAO, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, respectively, in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020; and

Whereas, the Taiwan Travel Act, signed into law by the President of the United States 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.

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, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

2. That the Members of the Legislature acknowledge the achievements made by Arizona and Taiwan in the fields of economy, trade, technology, education and culture since the establishment of their sister-state relations on July 28, 1980, and encourage continued bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two sides in the future, including the reestablishment of the trade office of Arizona in Taiwan, the signing of the memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation and trade relations between Arizona and Taiwan and the signing of the memorandum of understanding on higher education between Arizona and Taiwan.

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 a copy 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.