MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Chassaniol, Blackwell, McMahan, Younger, Fillingane, Carter, Parker, Williams, Hopson, Whaley, Johnson, England, Thompson, Frazier, Sparks, Chism, Blount, Barrett, Parks, Wiggins, Boyd, McCaughn, Suber, Thomas Senate Concurrent Resolution 539 (As Adopted by Senate and House) A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN). WHEREAS, the longstanding bonds of friendship between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, continue to yield important economic, social, strategic, and cultural benefits; and WHEREAS, in 2024 Taiwan ranked 4th on the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, holds an important position in the global economy as a top player in the world's information and communications technology industry, and is a trusted partner for economic cooperation and exchanges in industries like smart machinery, the Internet of Things, Biotechnology, energy technology, national defense, semiconductors, and the circular economy; and WHEREAS, U.S.-Taiwan trade reached $158.6 Billion in 2024 with Taiwan ranking as the United States' 6th largest export market for American agricultural products and the 7th-largest merchandise trading partner; and WHEREAS, the robust trade and investment partnership between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) provides a solid foundation for the mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to spur job creation, further expand the global market, and secure international, democratic supply chains; and WHEREAS, Taiwan is a pivotal force for stability in the Indo-Pacific that amplifies the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity by partnering with like-minded countries through integrated diplomacy to address global challenges; and WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups partner with the United States on a range of issues to promote our common values of freedom, democracy and human rights; building on the cooperative tradition of prior joint partnerships such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which advances Taiwanese leadership in such arenas as democratization, human rights, women's empowerment, and public health; and WHEREAS, since 1983, Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have maintained a sister-state relationship and enjoy particularly close economic ties, and Mississippi exported over $200 Million in goods to Taiwan in 2024; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in the Republic of China (Taiwan) could enhance the participation of small- and medium-sized enterprises in trade and investment, and advance sister-state ties between Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan); and WHEREAS, Mississippi and the United States have benefited immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan, and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan works to enhance its presence in the international community: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby express our support for: ● The strengthening of our partnership with Taiwan; ● The expansion of Taiwan's role on the global stage, and for its efforts to preserve peace, stability, and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through meaningful dialogue; ● A tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan; ● Maintaining that UNGA Resolution 2758 cannot be used to exclude Taiwan from participation in the UN System and other international forums such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, the World Health Assembly, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; ● A Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan; and ● Celebrating the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 42nd anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Chassaniol, Blackwell, McMahan, Younger, Fillingane, Carter, Parker, Williams, Hopson, Whaley, Johnson, England, Thompson, Frazier, Sparks, Chism, Blount, Barrett, Parks, Wiggins, Boyd, McCaughn, Suber, Thomas
# Senate Concurrent Resolution 539
## (As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN).
WHEREAS, the longstanding bonds of friendship between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, continue to yield important economic, social, strategic, and cultural benefits; and
WHEREAS, in 2024 Taiwan ranked 4th on the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, holds an important position in the global economy as a top player in the world's information and communications technology industry, and is a trusted partner for economic cooperation and exchanges in industries like smart machinery, the Internet of Things, Biotechnology, energy technology, national defense, semiconductors, and the circular economy; and
WHEREAS, U.S.-Taiwan trade reached $158.6 Billion in 2024 with Taiwan ranking as the United States' 6th largest export market for American agricultural products and the 7th-largest merchandise trading partner; and
WHEREAS, the robust trade and investment partnership between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) provides a solid foundation for the mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to spur job creation, further expand the global market, and secure international, democratic supply chains; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is a pivotal force for stability in the Indo-Pacific that amplifies the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity by partnering with like-minded countries through integrated diplomacy to address global challenges; and
WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups partner with the United States on a range of issues to promote our common values of freedom, democracy and human rights; building on the cooperative tradition of prior joint partnerships such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which advances Taiwanese leadership in such arenas as democratization, human rights, women's empowerment, and public health; and
WHEREAS, since 1983, Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have maintained a sister-state relationship and enjoy particularly close economic ties, and Mississippi exported over $200 Million in goods to Taiwan in 2024; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in the Republic of China (Taiwan) could enhance the participation of small- and medium-sized enterprises in trade and investment, and advance sister-state ties between Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan); and
WHEREAS, Mississippi and the United States have benefited immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan, and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan works to enhance its presence in the international community:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby express our support for:
● The strengthening of our partnership with Taiwan;
● The expansion of Taiwan's role on the global stage, and for its efforts to preserve peace, stability, and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through meaningful dialogue;
● A tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan;
● Maintaining that UNGA Resolution 2758 cannot be used to exclude Taiwan from participation in the UN System and other international forums such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, the World Health Assembly, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;
● A Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan; and
● Celebrating the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 42nd anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.