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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is proud of the sister-state
3relationship it has enjoyed with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
4since 1992, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and
5cultural exchanges, and tourism; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom,
7democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity
8with the United States and the State of Illinois; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's
10second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the eleventh-largest
11trading partner of the United States and bilateral trade
12reached US$ 68.2 billion in 2017; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed the landmark
14Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) in 1979 to sustain a close bilateral
15relationship between the United States and Taiwan, as well as
16to advance their mutual security and commercial interests; the
17TRA has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations and
18has helped to preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan
19Strait; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a
21long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of

 

 

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1future growth; Taiwan was Illinois's eighth-largest export
2market in Asia in 2017, with US$ 669 million worth of Illinois
3goods exported to Taiwan; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement
5(BTA) between Taiwan and the United States are an important
6step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our
7countries, thereby increasing Illinois's exports to Taiwan and
8creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration
9through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation
10measures; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast
12diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable
13of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and to
14collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of
15humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore, be
16it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we recognize the 40th anniversary of the United States
20Congress's enacting of the Taiwan Relations Act and reiterate
21our support for a closer economic and trade partnership between
22the United States and Taiwan; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the
2signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United
3States; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That we express our continued support for
5Taiwan's meaningful participation in international
6organizations which impact the health, safety, and well-being
7of its people and support its aspiration to make more
8contributions to the global community; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
10delivered to all members of the Illinois Congressional
11Delegation and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
12Chicago.