Bill Text: MS HR76 | 2020 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Republic of China (Taiwan) and Mississippi; encourage further economic ties and friendship between.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-05-27 - Immediate Release [HR76 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-HR76-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Reynolds
House Resolution 76
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN).
WHEREAS, for decades the United States of America and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have fostered a close and longstanding partnership built on a shared dedication to freedom, democracy and a market economy; and
WHEREAS, bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan reached $85.5 billion in 2019, making Taiwan the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, and both nations could realize further economic gains through establishing a Free Trade Agreement as well as by enhancing platforms such as Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Digital Economy Forum (DEF); and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has been routinely dispatching a substantial delegation to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit since 2013, and United States exports to Taiwan, combined with Taiwan's investment in the United States, support over 370,000 well paid United States jobs; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan imported nearly $4.3 billion worth of United States farm products in 2018, making it the eighth largest market for United States agricultural products, the second largest per capita, and the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to the United States in 2019 signed letters of intent on soybeans, corn, wheat and meat, for the purchase of United States grains worth $2.7 billion and beef worth $960 million in 2020-2021, and the trade mission's soybean and corn subgroups has visited and signed letters of intent with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, which reflects Taiwan's commitment to deepening economic ties with Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has for years remained a beacon of democracy in Asia, rated as "free" by Freedom House 21 years in a row, and on January 11, 2020, the people of Taiwan made history again with nearly 75% of eligible voters participating in the general election, and proving to the world that democracy works as President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President-elect Lai Ching-te were elected to office with the vote of highest-ever 8.17 million in the history of Taiwan's presidential election, accounting for 57.1% voter share and a margin of nearly 20 percentage points; and
WHEREAS, the World Economic Forum's 2019 Global Competitiveness Report rated Taiwan 12th amongst 141 economies and recognized Taiwan's innovation capability as one of the top four in the world, resulting from wide-ranging regulatory efforts to build an environment conducive to financial sector development and foreign direct investment, and underscoring the impact of Taiwan's Five-plus-two industrial innovation initiative targeting the high-growth sectors of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as the circular economy and a new paradigm of agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 has continued to provide a sturdy foundation for robust United States-Taiwan relations to flourish for 41 years, as both countries have further affirmed their partnership in such areas as international humanitarian assistance, public health and technology under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) established in June 2015, and the Taiwan Travel Act was passed in 2018 by both chambers of the United States Congress and signed by President Trump to encourage high-level officials' visits between the United States and Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, 2020 marks the 37th anniversary of Mississippi-Taiwan sister-state relations, which have nurtured and maintained a friendship built upon unwavering bonds beneficial and rewarding for both governments and their citizens: Taiwan is Mississippi's 4th largest trading partner in Asia in 2019, with Mississippi exporting nearly $45 million in goods to Taiwan, and Taiwan sent a business delegation to visit Mississippi companies in November 2017, followed by a trade delegation led by former Governor Phil Bryant to Taiwan in August 2019, aiming to promote bilateral exchange in the industries of agriculture, biomedicine, machinery manufacturing and cybersecurity; and
WHEREAS, travel from Taiwan to the United States increased by almost 60% since Taiwan's participation in the United States Visa Waiver program (VWP) in November 2012, and Taiwan joined the United States Global Entry program in November 2017, and these significant efforts will continue to promote tourism and encourage exchanges between the two peoples; and
WHEREAS, nontraditional security threats are increasing in the 21st century, so the meaningful participation and inclusion of Taiwan, the 21st largest economy in the world, to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) would be beneficial to all nations and their people:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby encourage closer economic relationships between the United States and Taiwan by negotiating an FTA between the two countries; commend Taiwan's inclusion in the United States Global Entry and Visa Waiver program to encourage economic and cultural exchanges; support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the INTERPOL, ICAO, UNFCCC, and WHO; celebrate the 37th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan; and commend Mr. Peter C.Y. Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, for efforts and contributions toward enhancing cooperation between Mississippi and Taiwan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Peter C.Y. Chen and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
