Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1357 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 04/11/2023

                    This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives. 
STORAGE NAME: h1357c.SAC 
DATE: 4/11/2023 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS  
 
BILL #: HM 1357    Inclusion of Taiwan in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework 
SPONSOR(S): Roach 
TIED BILLS:    IDEN./SIM. BILLS:   
 
REFERENCE 	ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or 
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF 
1) Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special 
Districts Subcommittee 
16 Y, 0 N Burgess Darden 
2) State Affairs Committee 	16 Y, 0 N Burgess Williamson 
SUMMARY ANALYSIS 
Taiwan is an island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, separated from China's southeastern coast by the 99-
mile-wide Taiwan Strait. Following the relocation of the government of the Republic of China to the island in 
1949, Taiwan has functioned, in all practical terms, as an independent nation. Taiwan's rapid economic growth 
in the decades following WWII transformed the country into an industrialized developed country. The 
International Monetary Fund classifies it as an advanced economy, while the World Bank classifies it as a high-
income economy. 
 
In May 2022, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity with Australia, 
Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, 
and Vietnam. In June 2022, the United States and Taiwan established the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-
Century Trade to explore ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities 
based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive growth for workers and businesses. 
 
The memorial provides historical background of relations between the United States and Taiwan and highlights 
Taiwan’s economic aptitude. The memorial urges the United States Department of State to invite Taiwan to 
participate in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity negotiations to improve economic collaboration 
and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. 
 
The memorial directs the Secretary of State to provide copies of the memorial to the President of the United 
States, the Secretary of State of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Florida delegation to the United States 
Congress. 
 
Legislative memorials are not subject to the Governor’s veto powers and are not presented to the Governor for 
review. Memorials have no force of law, as they are mechanisms for formally petitioning the federal 
government to act on a particular subject. 
 
This memorial does not have a fiscal impact on the state or local governments. 
   STORAGE NAME: h1357c.SAC 	PAGE: 2 
DATE: 4/11/2023 
  
FULL ANALYSIS 
I.  SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS 
 
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES: 
 
Present Situation 
 
Taiwan 
 
Taiwan is an island nation located in the western Pacific Ocean and is separated from the southeastern 
coast of China by the 99-mile-wide Taiwan Strait.
1
 Following the relocation of the government of the 
Republic of China to the island in 1949, Taiwan has functioned, for all practical purposes, as an 
independent nation.
2
 
 
Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the decades after World War II has transformed it into an 
industrialized developed country. It is categorized as an advanced economy by the International 
Monetary Fund and as a high-income economy by the World Bank. Its advanced technology industry 
plays a key role in the global economy. Taiwanese companies manufacture a large portion of the 
world's consumer electronics, although most of them are now made in their factories on mainland 
China.
3
 
 
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity 
 
In May 2022, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) 
with Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, 
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
4
 
 
The framework intends to advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, 
and competitiveness for the economies of partner nations. Through this initiative, the IPEF partners aim 
to contribute to cooperation, stability, prosperity, development, and peace within the region. The 
framework offers tangible benefits that fuel economic activity and investment, promote sustainable and 
inclusive economic growth, and benefit workers and consumers across the region. The 14 IPEF 
partners represent 40 percent of global gross domestic product and 28 percent of global goods and 
services trade. 
 
The framework is intended to lead to discussions on four key issues identified as “pillars”: (1) Trade; (2) 
Supply Chains; (3) Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and (4) Tax and Anti-Corruption. 
The IPEF is designed to be flexible, meaning that IPEF partners are not required to join all four pillars. 
 
Taiwan has voiced its desire to be a “full member” in the IPEF.
5
 Additionally, in May 2022, a bipartisan 
group of over 50 United States Senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding the 
administration’s potential inclusion of Taiwan as a partner in the IPEF.
6
 Similarly, in March 2022, the 
Taiwan Caucus led a bipartisan group of 200 U.S. Representatives to send a letter to Commerce 
                                                
1
 Encyclopedia Britannica, Taiwan, https://www.britannica.com/place/Taiwan (last visited Mar. 27, 2023). 
2
 Government of Taiwan, History, https://www.taiwan.gov.tw/content_3.php (last visited Mar. 27, 2023). 
3
 BBC Monitoring, Taiwan country profile, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16164639 (last visited Mar. 24, 2023). 
4
 Office of the United States Trade Representative, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), https://ustr.gov/trade-
agreements/agreements-under-negotiation/indo-pacific-economic-framework-prosperity-ipef (last visited Mar. 24, 2023). 
5
 Ben Blanchard and Jeanny Kao, Taiwan seeks Indo-Pacific Economic Framework membership with U.S., Reuters (April 19, 2022), 
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-seeks-indo-pacific-economic-framework-membership-with-us-2022-04-19/ (last 
visited Mar. 24, 2023) 
6
 Foreign Relations Committee, Risch, Menendez Lead 50 Colleagues in Letter to POTUS Championing Taiwan’s Inclusion in 
Proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-menendez-lead-50-
colleagues-in-letter-to-potus-championing-taiwans-inclusion-in-proposed-indo-pacific-economic-framework-ipef (last visited Mar. 24, 
2023).  STORAGE NAME: h1357c.SAC 	PAGE: 3 
DATE: 4/11/2023 
  
Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai expressing their support for 
Taiwan’s inclusion in IPEF.
7
 
 
U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade 
 
In June 2022, the United States and Taiwan established the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century 
Trade to develop ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities 
based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive growth for workers and businesses.
8
 
 
Effect of the Memorial 
 
The memorial provides historical background of relations between the United States and Taiwan and 
highlights Taiwan’s economic aptitude. The memorial urges the United States Department of State to 
invite Taiwan to participate in IPEF negotiations to improve economic collaboration and prosperity in 
the Indo-Pacific region. 
 
The memorial directs the Secretary of State to provide copies of the memorial to the President of the 
United States, the Secretary of State of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, 
the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Florida 
delegation to the United States Congress. 
 
Legislative memorials are not subject to the Governor’s veto powers and are not presented to the 
Governor for review. Memorials have no force of law, as they are mechanisms for formally petitioning 
the federal government to act on a particular subject. 
 
B. SECTION DIRECTORY: 
Not applicable. 
II.  FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT 
 
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT: 
 
1. Revenues: 
None. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
None. 
 
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 
 
1. Revenues: 
None. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
None. 
 
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR: 
None. 
 
                                                
7
 Mario Diaz-Balart, Taiwan Caucus Urges Commerce, USTR to Include Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, 
https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/taiwan-caucus-urges-commerce-ustr-include-taiwan-indo-pacific-
economic (last visited Mar. 24, 2023). 
8
 U.S. Department of State, Marking One Year Since the Release of the Administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, available at 
https://www.state.gov/marking-one-year-since-the-release-of-the-administrations-indo-pacific-strategy/ (last visited Mar. 24, 2023).  STORAGE NAME: h1357c.SAC 	PAGE: 4 
DATE: 4/11/2023 
  
D. FISCAL COMMENTS: 
None. 
III.  COMMENTS 
 
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: 
 
 1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision: 
Not applicable. This memorial does not appear to affect county or municipal governments. 
 
2. Other: 
None. 
 
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY: 
The memorial neither authorizes nor requires executive branch rulemaking. 
 
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS: 
None. 
IV.  AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES 
None.