HR0028 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0028 LRB102 10454 ECR 15782 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1992, the State of Illinois established the sister-state relationship with Taiwan Province, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Illinois and Taiwan have enjoyed strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges, and tourism; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the tenth-largest trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade reached U.S. $85.5 billion in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of future growth, and Taiwan was Illinois' seventh-largest export market in Asia in 2019 with U.S. $667 million worth of Illinois goods exported to Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our countries; a trade agreement will increase Illinois' exports to Taiwan and create bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and to collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm a commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States and reiterate our support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Illinois and Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations which impact the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan and support Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in international societies.