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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 42
BY SENATOR CROWE
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Republic of China, known as 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 and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 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 Louisiana.
WHEREAS, 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, all of which have contributed to a robust bi-
lateral trade with the United States of America; 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 2014
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 promote trade successfully and
encourage investment between Taiwan and Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, with the approval of the United States Department of Energy granted
in February 2014, Taiwan will begin a long-term plan to import shale gas from Louisiana,
which is to begin in 2017 and is expected to be a multi-billion dollar business opportunity;
and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization and the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation and maintains a bilateral free trade agreement between
Taiwan and the United States, and a regional free trade agreement to include Taiwan would SR NO. 42 ENROLLED
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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 International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (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
contribute greatly 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 urge 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, Texas, 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 Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby commends the Republic of China, known as Taiwan, for positive development
between Taiwan and Louisiana and the twenty-ninth anniversary of the sister-state
relationship between Taiwan and Louisiana and the thirty-fourth anniversary of the SR NO. 42 ENROLLED
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sister-city relationship between the city of Taichung and the city of Baton Rouge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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 Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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 Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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, Texas.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE