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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 28
BY REPRESENTATIVES ARNOLD AND JAY MORRI S
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Republic of China (Taiwan) for positive economic relations with the state
of Louisiana, to call for closer economic relations between Taiwan and the United
States, to support Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), to encourage peaceful resolution of ongoing disputes in the East
China Sea, and to welcome Director General Steve Hsia for his continued efforts and
contributions to advance economic and cultural exchange between Taiwan and the
state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) engage in robust
bilateral trade, and Taiwan is the world's twenty-seventh largest economy, eleventh most
competitive economy worldwide, seventeenth largest export economy, eighteenth largest
import economy, fourth largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, eleventh largest United
States trading partner, sixteenth largest United States export market, and largest per capita
importer of United States agricultural products; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is one of Louisiana's most important export markets with more
than six hundred twenty million dollars in products imported by Taiwan in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Governor Bobby Jindal made his first visit to Taiwan in January of this
year to meet President Ma Ying-Jeou and to hold meetings with executives from the
Formosa Plastics Group, the CPC Corporation, and others in order to successfully promote
trade and encourage investment between Taiwan and the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, with the approval of the United States Department of Energy in
February of this year, Taiwan will begin a long-term plan to import shale gas from
Louisiana, which is to begin in 2017 and is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar business
opportunity; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 28
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WHEREAS, Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and a bilateral free trade agreement between Tawain
and the United States, and a regional free trade agreement to include Taiwan would
substantially reduce or eliminate most import quotas, duties, and other trade barriers,
expanding market opportunities for Louisiana and the entire United States; and
WHEREAS, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) represents a high standard,
ambitious, comprehensive, and forward-looking pathway for achieving an eventual Free
Trade Area of Asia-Pacific; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the TPP would lead to an overall gain of over
seventy-seven billion dollars in social welfare for the United States and all other members;
and
WHEREAS, given the important role that Taiwan plays in commercial aviation and
the global economy, it is vital that Taiwan participates as an observer in the ICAO and
UNFCCC; meaningful participation by Taiwan as an observer in the ICAO will enhance
efforts to improve safety and procedures and develop a global strategy to address aviation
security threats, and as an observer in the UNFCCC, Taiwan would greatly contribute to
global efforts aimed at reducing and preventing natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, in light of the controversies in the East China Sea and the Diaoyutai
islands, it is necessary to call on all parties concerned to resolve disputes peacefully; in order
to seek out a path to coexistence and mutual prosperity, the government of the Republic of
China proposes the East China Sea Peace Initiative in an effort to make the East China Sea
a place of peace and cooperation; and
WHEREAS, Steve Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office in Houston, and his office have further advanced economic and educational
cooperation between Taiwan and Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the year 2014 marks the twenty-ninth anniversary of the sister-state
relationship between Taiwan and Louisiana, as well as the thirty-fourth anniversary of the
sister-city relationship between the city of Taichung and the city of Baton Rouge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana hereby commends the Republic of China (Taiwan) for positive
development between Taiwan and the state of Louisiana and the twenty-ninth anniversary ENROLLEDHR NO. 28
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of the sister-state relationship between Taiwan and Louisiana and the thirty-fourth
anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the city of Taichung and the city of Baton
Rouge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives hereby
encourages closer economic relationships between Taiwan and the United States through
negotiation of a free trade agreement and bilateral investment agreement between Taiwan
and the United States and through Taiwan's membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives hereby
expresses support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the International Civil Aviation
Organization and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and for the
East China Sea Peace Initiative and the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement, both of which
contribute to regional peace and economic cooperation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives hereby
commends Steve Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
Houston, for his efforts and contributions for enhancing cooperation between Taiwan and
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Steve
Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES