SR0765 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0765 LRB103 39273 LAW 69426 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1992, the State of Illinois established a sister-state relationship with Taiwan, the Republic of China (R.O.C.); since that time, 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 State of Illinois and the United States; and

WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade reaching more than US$ 160 billion in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan imported nearly US$ 4.4 billion worth of U.S. farm products in 2022, making it the seventh largest market for U.S. agricultural products overall, the fourth largest market on a per capita basis among the top 10 U.S. agricultural export destinations, and the seventh largest market for U.S. soybeans and corn individually; and

WHEREAS, Due to its high quality produce, the U.S. remains one of Taiwan's largest sources of agricultural products, supplying more than one-fifth of the country's major agricultural imports; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of future growth; Taiwan was Illinois' fifth-largest export market in Asia in 2022, with US$ 876 million worth of Illinois goods exported to Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, To strengthen the Taiwan-Illinois bilateral economic relationship, it is essential to support Illinois businesses to enhance their economic engagement with Taiwan based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA, Public Law 96-8, 22 U.S.C. 3301); Article 4, Section b of the TRA stipulates that "wherever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan"; it is legitimate for Illinois businesses to refer to Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan in conducting their business ties with Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) between Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our countries, thereby increasing Illinois' exports to Taiwan and creating 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 fulfilling, 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 SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm our commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Illinois and Taiwan, R.O.C.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and support Illinois businesses to refer to Taiwan, R.O.C. as Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with the United States, and we 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, such as the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the International Criminal Police Organization - INTERPOL (ICPO-INTERPOL), which impact the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan, and we support Taiwan's aspiration to make more contributions in international societies.