Bill Text: HI SR98 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Hawaii as TPP Headquarters; Trade Agreements; Asia Pacific Region; APEC

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-24 - Re-Referred to WAM. [SR98 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SR98-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	98
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

encouraging the designation of hawaii as the headquarters for the trans-pacific partnership and its trade agreements throughout the asia pacific region and the asia-pacific economic cooperation.

 

 

     WHEREAS, in 1993, the United States hosted the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Seattle, Washington, where President Bill Clinton and the APEC Leaders established a consortium pledged to make APEC a "voice" in the global economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1994, the National Center for APEC was formed in Seattle, Washington, to facilitate the development of business policies and inputs in the economies of the Asia Pacific region and give American corporations and private sector organizations an opportunity to participate in the APEC process as stakeholders; and

 

     WHEREAS, twenty-one countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States of America, and Vietnam, participated in the APEC Summit, making it the world's largest intergovernmental summit in the Asia Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, during the 1994 APEC Summit in Bogor, Indonesia, APEC leaders outlined a long-range plan and goals for a Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific region for developing countries in the Asia Pacific region and established the Bogor Doctrine, a strategy to promote free trade agreements; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Bogor Doctrine has encouraged APEC countries to have a Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific Region by the year 2020; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was established in 2005 and led by members of the APEC countries to meet the goals of the Bogor Doctrine for its regional trade and commerce and regulatory investment treaty; and

 

     WHEREAS, in November 2011, the United States and State of Hawaii hosted the 19th APEC Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, where President Barack Obama and APEC leaders incorporated the Bogor Doctrine into the TPP Free Trade Agreement; and

 

     WHEREAS, as of 2014, twelve countries throughout the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and the United States, had participated in the negotiations of the TPP; and

 

     WHEREAS, from September 26 to October 1, 2015, the United States and the TPP members approved the TPP terms and conditions and the TPP Free Trade Agreements, and reached an agreement on the 21st Century High Standards Comprehensive Agreement; and

 

     WHEREAS, on February 4, 2016, in Auckland, New Zealand, the TPP members signed the TPP Trade Agreement, and the United States Congress has ninety days from the date of signing to disapprove or approve the TPP Trade Agreement; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is an ideal headquarters to bring together APEC and TPP members to discuss further increased investments of trade and commerce and work toward the goals of the Bogor Doctrine and establishment of a Free Trade Agreement of the Asia Pacific region by the year 2020; and

 

     WHEREAS, recent bombings and terrorist attacks have created a worldwide alert and increased security measures and travel alerts; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Pacific Command is located in Hawaii, and Hawaii is protected by the United States Department of Defense, thereby providing a secure location for government officials, diplomats, and business leaders; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States and State of Hawaii have already hosted the TPP Negotiation Ministers Meeting in Kona, Hawaii, from March 9 to 14, 2015, and in Maui, Hawaii, from July 27 to 31, 2015; and

 

     WHEREAS, the recent 2016 United States Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Summit in Sunnylands, California, was a successful summit to bring peace, security, economic development, and prosperity to the Asia Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, engagement in the new initiative "U.S. and ASEAN Connect" will further reunite the ASEAN Members to work together for betterment of the human race with the TPP members; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the Governor is encouraged to issue a memorandum to the United States Congress, United States Trade Representative's Office, Department of State, Executive Office of the President, and TPP Members stating that the State of Hawaii should be the headquarters for the APEC, Trans Pacific Partnership, and its trade agreements throughout the Asia Pacific region; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Congress is encouraged to adopt a resolution designating the same and for the resolution to be forwarded to the members of the TPP and requesting the introduction of new legislation to the Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority bill to facilitate and include the State of Hawaii as the headquarters for the TPP and its trade agreements for the Asia Pacific region and have the TPP Secretary General be located in Honolulu, Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, Governor, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Mayor of the County of Kauai, Mayor of the County of Maui, Chief Negotiator of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Executive Director of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, President of the East-West Center, and Chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Board of Trustees.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Hawaii as TPP Headquarters; Trade Agreements; Asia Pacific Region; APEC