MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Reynolds, Bain, Carpenter, Byrd, Rogers (14th), Zuber, Steverson
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan signed a joint statement regarding cooperation on an International Expedited Traveler Initiative on April 4, 2016, which encourages further exchanges and interaction between the two peoples as travel from Taiwan to the United States has increased by more than 50 percent since the announcement of Taiwan's participation in the Visa Waiver Program in 2012 and the United States now ranks as the 5th highest source of tourists to Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) engage in robust bilateral trade and investment, evidenced by the fact that Taiwan is the United States' 9th largest trading partner and Mississippi's 9th largest export partner in Asia, as the state exported $49,800,000 in goods and services to Taiwan in 2015; and
WHEREAS, agribusiness continues to be one of the leading industries in Mississippi, and Taiwan, the largest per capita importer of United States agricultural products and goods, dispatches agricultural procurement missions to the United States every two years to sign multi-billion dollar supply deals; and
WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) remains an illuminated beacon of democracy as the only entirely democratic nation in the Chinese-speaking world, and at the Taiwanese general election held on January 16, 2016, Dr. Ing-Wen Tsai, the chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party, was elected as the first female President; and
WHEREAS, an expert on trade, President-elect Tsai participated in the bilateral trade negotiations between Taiwan and the United States and played a major negotiating role for Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, a true testament to her familiarity and concern regarding the mutual interests between Taiwan and the United States; and
WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by the Business Roundtable, $4,600,000,000 worth of goods have been exported from Mississippi to countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the market of trade between the United States and TPP countries supported an estimated 128,900 jobs in Mississippi in 2014, statistics that prove not only the United States but also the State of Mississippi will exponentially benefit from closer economic relationships with Taiwan, which may be garnered by negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) and a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) and supporting Taiwan's membership in the TPP; and
WHEREAS, given the important role Taiwan plays in global aviation security, to include Taiwan as a participant in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would undoubtedly help develop a global strategy to address aviation security threats; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has passed a landmark Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act to cut carbon emissions to 50 percent of the 2005 levels by 2050 and also announced its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), committing itself to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent from the current level by 2030, which shows that accommodating Taiwan's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) would increase the global efforts to combat and conquer climate change; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to promote and maintain viable relationships with industrious and democratic nations, especially those such as the relationship between the State of Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan), which has been amiable and productive for 33 years:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the signing of a joint statement regarding travel between the United States and Taiwan; congratulate President-elect Dr. Ing-Wen Tsai on her election; support closer economic relationships between Taiwan and the United States through Taiwan's participation in the TPP, ICAO, UNFCCC and INTERPOL; celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the friendships between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan and the City of Jackson and Chiayi City; and commend Mr. Louis M. Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, for his efforts and contributions toward enhancing cooperation between Taiwan and Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Louis M. Huang and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.