HLS 17RS-3855 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 239
BY REPRESENTATIVE EMERSON
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: Encourages closer economic relationship between the U.S.
and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the negotiation of a free trade agreement
between the two countries
1 A RESOLUTION
2To encourage closer economic relationships between the United States and the Republic of
3 China (Taiwan) and the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the two
4 countries.
5 WHEREAS, for decades, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have
6fostered a close relationship that has been of mutual economic, cultural, and strategic
7benefit; bilateral trade between the U.S. and Taiwan reached $65.3 billion in 2016, making
8Taiwan the tenth largest trading partner of the U.S. as well as the largest per capita importer
9of U.S. agricultural products; and
10 WHEREAS, Taiwan maintains biennial agricultural procurement missions to the
11U.S. to sign multi-billion-dollar supply deals and has been actively dispatching a substantial
12delegation to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit since 2013; and
13 WHEREAS, U.S. exports to Taiwan, combined with Taiwan's investment in the U.S.,
14support more than three hundred thirty thousand well-paid U.S. jobs; both nations could
15realize further economic gains through the establishment of a free trade agreement and by
16enhancing the platforms of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and Digital
17Economy Forum; and
18 WHEREAS, Taiwan remains a beacon of democracy as well as the only full-fledged
19democracy in the Chinese-speaking world; the results of Taiwan's 2016 presidential election,
20which marked both the third peaceful transition of political power since the first popular vote
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HR NO. 239
1for president held in 1996 and the first transition of its national legislative majority since
21949, serve as proof that Taiwan is a worthy candidate for the Community of Democracies;
3and
4 WHEREAS, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 has been the cornerstone of relations
5between the U.S. and Taiwan for thirty-eight years, and both countries have further affirmed
6that Taiwan is an important and enduring economic and security partner through working
7in a mutually beneficial partnership to address global challenges in such areas as
8international humanitarian assistance, public health, and technology under the Global
9Cooperation and Training Framework established in June of 2015; and
10 WHEREAS, travel from Taiwan to the United States has increased by more than fifty
11percent since the announcement of Taiwan's participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program
12in 2012, EVA Air launched its direct Taipei-Houston route in 2015, and the U.S. and Taiwan
13signed a joint statement on an International Expedited Traveler Initiative in 2016, all
14significant efforts which will promote tourism and encourage exchanges between the two
15peoples; and
16 WHEREAS, Taiwan acts as a natural hub to other Asian destinations, with Taiwan's
17Civil Aeronautics Administration providing services for more than one and a half million
18controlled flights carrying fifty-eight million incoming and outgoing passengers annually;
19and
20 WHEREAS, non-traditional security threats are increasing in the twenty-first
21century, and the meaningful participation and inclusion of Taiwan, the twenty-second largest
22economy in the world, to the International Criminal Police Organization, the International
23Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
24and the World Health Assembly would be beneficial to all nations and their people; and
25 WHEREAS, this year marks the thirty-second anniversary of the sister-state
26relationship between the state of Louisiana and Taiwan and the thirty-seventh anniversary
27of the sister-city relationship between Baton Rouge and Taichung, a bond nurtured through
28mutually beneficial exchanges; more than four thousand three hundred jobs in Louisiana are
29supported by Taiwan-affiliated companies, and Louisiana exported $2.06 billion in goods
30to Taiwan in 2016, making Taiwan the fifth largest export market for Louisiana in Asia; and
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HR NO. 239
1 WHEREAS, Formosa Petrochemical Corp is planning an eleven billion-dollar
2investment of an industrial complex in St. James Parish, which would create one thousand
3two hundred new direct jobs with an average annual salary of eighty-four thousand five
4hundred dollars plus benefits and result in eight thousand new indirect jobs for a total of nine
5thousand two hundred jobs in Louisiana; and
6 WHEREAS, allowing the recognition of valid, noncommercial driver's licenses
7between Louisiana and Taiwan is part of the effort to promote a business-friendly
8environment in order to advance mutual trade and investment.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
10Legislature of Louisiana does hereby encourage closer economic relationships between the
11United States and Taiwan and the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the two
12countries.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
14of Louisiana does hereby commend the signing of a joint statement on an International
15Expedited Traveler Initiative between the United States and Taiwan, which encourages
16tourism; does hereby support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the International Criminal
17Police Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations
18Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the World Health Assembly; and does
19hereby encourage and support the mutual recognition of noncommercial driver's licenses
20between Louisiana and Taiwan.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
22of Louisiana does hereby celebrate the thirty-second anniversary of the sister-state
23relationship between Louisiana and Taiwan and does hereby commend Louis M. Huang,
24Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, for efforts
25and contributions toward enhancing cooperation between Taiwan and Louisiana.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
27to Louis M. Huang.
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HR NO. 239
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 239 Original 2017 Regular Session Emerson
Encourages closer economic relationships between the U.S. and Taiwan and the negotiation
of a free trade agreement between the two countries; commends the signing of a joint
statement on an International Expedited Traveler Initiative between the U.S. and Taiwan;
supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in the International Criminal Police
Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and the World Health Assembly; encourages and supports
the mutual recognition of noncommercial driver's licenses between La. and Taiwan;
celebrates the 32nd anniversary of the sister-state relationship between La. and Taiwan; and
commends Louis M. Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
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