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REFERENCE TITLE: United States; Taiwan partnership. |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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SCR 1021 |
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Introduced by Senators Gray: Barto, Borrelli, Bowie, Boyer, Contreras, Fann, Gabaldon, Gonzales, Gowan, Kerr, Leach, Livingston, Mesnard, Otondo, Pace, Petersen, Quezada, Rios, Rogers, Shope, Steele, Terán, Townsend, Ugenti-Rita; Representatives Bolick, Cook
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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 $90.9 billion in 2020, with $30.5 billion in exports and $60.4 billion in imports, ranking Taiwan as the ninth largest trading partner of the United States. Overall, Taiwan supports an estimate of more than 375,288 jobs in the United States; and
Whereas, 161 Members of Congress signed a letter to then 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 toward 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, the United States Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs and Taiwan Minister of Science and Technology jointly led the second annual United States-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue on November 22, 2021, which featured extensive discussions on supply chain resiliency, countering economic coercion, promoting the digital economy, strengthening 5G network security and advancing collaboration in a variety of science and technology fields; and
Whereas, Taiwan was Arizona's eighth largest export market in 2020, reaching $551.3 million in total United States exports to Taiwan originating from Arizona. In total, more than 7,895 jobs in Arizona are supported by Taiwanese affiliated companies and the exports of goods and services to Taiwan; and
Whereas, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has begun construction of its $12 billion 5-nanometer fab in Phoenix, Arizona, 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, Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Arizona Commerce Authority signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Economic Cooperation on October 5, 2021, aiming to foster further economic engagement and to establish or expand operations and supply chain cooperation between Taiwan and Arizona; 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, the United States Secretary of State issued a statement on October 26, 2021 encouraging all United Nations member states to join the United States in supporting Taiwan's robust, meaningful participation throughout the United Nations system and in the international community; and
Whereas Ms. Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan's Representative to the United States, and Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang were invited to attend the "Summit for Democracy" hosted by the President of the United States on December 9 and 10, 2021; 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 World Health Organization, the ICAO and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, respectively, in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; 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 establishing their sister-state relations on July 28, 1980 and encourage continued bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two sides 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.