Bill Text: HI HCR154 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Taiwan; Free Trade Agreement

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Referred to VMI, EDB, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HCR154 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HCR154-Introduced.html

---

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	154
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

ENCOURAGING the federal Administration to Negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with Taiwan.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, a longstanding, close bilateral relationship, codified in the federal Taiwan Relations Act, has existed between the United States and Taiwan and has proven economically, culturally, and strategically important to both countries; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is a robust democracy, significant United States trading partner, and an important and strategic United States ally; and

 

     WHEREAS, together, Taiwan and the United States promote a shared belief in freedom, democracy, and market principles; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan has consistently ranked among the top twelve United States trading partners for over two decades; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to 2008 data, the United States is Taiwan's third-largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the United States' twelfth-largest trading partner; and

 

     WHEREAS, a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States would build on their existing strong relations to simultaneously boost Taiwan's security and democracy and serve the broader interests of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States would encourage greater innovation and manufacturing efficiencies by stimulating joint technological development, practical applications, and new cooperative ventures; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan has become the world's largest producer of information technology hardware and ranks first in the production of notebook computers, monitors, motherboards, and scanners; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States is a significant supplier of electrical machinery and appliances, transport equipment, scientific instruments, and chemical products to Taiwan; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2002 United States International Trade Commission report found that exports by some sectors of the United States economy, including automobiles, agricultural products, and research medicines, would increase significantly in percentage terms if the United States entered into a free trade agreement with Taiwan; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan was admitted to the World Trade Organization in January 2002, resulting in reduced Taiwanese tariffs and increased market access for foreign investment; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a member of the World Trade Organization, Taiwan is entitled to the same rights as any other member nation to enter into free trade agreements with other countries of its choosing; and

 

     WHEREAS, the People's Republic of China is initiating negotiations on an economic cooperation framework agreement with Taiwan; and

 

     WHEREAS, the People's Republic of China and Taiwan have opened air transport links with each other; and

 

     WHEREAS, the European Chamber of Commerce has urged Taiwan to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports the negotiation of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the President of the United States to launch negotiations as soon as possible with Taiwan for the establishment of a free trade agreement between the two democracies; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Chairpersons and ranking members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance and the United States House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, the United States Trade Representative, the United States Secretary of Commerce, the United States Secretary of Labor, the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, the President of Taiwan, the President of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, and the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Taiwan; Free Trade Agreement