VTLEG#381916v.1
StateofVermont
SenateChamber
Montpelier,Vermont
SenateResolution
OfferedbySenatorsClarkson,Brock,Cummings,Ingalls,Major,RamHinsdale,WeeksandWhite,
S.R.12.SenateresolutionrelatingtoreaffirmingthefriendshipbetweentheStateofVermontandTaiwanand
supportingenhancedVermont-TaiwanbilateralrelationsandTaiwan'sparticipationininternationalorganizations.
Whereas,theUnitedStatesandtheRepublicofChina(Taiwan)shareavibrant,mutuallybeneficialbilateral
relationshipbasedonourcommonvaluesoffreedomandafree-marketeconomy,andtherelationshipisasstrongas
ithaseverbeen,and
Whereas,theJanuary2024electionofDr.LaiChing-teasthePresidentofTaiwandemonstratesthevibrancyof
Taiwan’sdemocracy,and
Whereas,theUnitedStatesisTaiwan’ssecond-largesttradingpartnerandTaiwanistheUnitedStates’seventh-
largesttradingpartner;in2024,thetwo-waytradeingoodsbetweentheUnitedStatesandTaiwantotaledinexcessof
$157billion;andtheUnitedStatesisalsothelargestsupplierofagriculturalproductstoTaiwan,and
Whereas,in2022,theUnitedStatesandTaiwanlaunched,andin2023signed,theU.S.-TaiwanInitiativeon21st
CenturyTrade,which,inpart,“isintendedtodevelopconcretewaystodeepentheeconomicandtraderelationship,”
andthefirstagreementundertheInitiativebecameeffectiveinDecember2024,and
Whereas,Taiwanisthesecond-largestexportdestinationforVermontgoods,worthapproximately$254million,
andVermontimportedanestimated$55.3millioningoodsfromTaiwan,and
Whereas,theGovernmentofTaiwanhasexpressedadesiretoreachanavoidanceofdoubletaxationagreement
withtheUnitedStates,whichcouldincreaseVermont’sexportstoTaiwan,bilateralinvestment,andjobsinVermont,
and
Whereas,VermontandTaiwanhaveenjoyedalonghistoryofproductivebilateralrelations,includingenteringinto
adriver’slicensereciprocityagreementin2020,andtheGovernmentofTaiwandesirestoestablishamemorandum
ofunderstandingwiththeStateofVermonttofurtherincreaseeducationalexchangesandcooperation,and
Whereas,UnitedStatespolicytowardTaiwanisnotbasedonUnitedNationsResolution2758of1971,butrather
theTaiwanRelationsActof1979,which“providesforthecontinuedmembershipofthepeopleonTaiwaninany
internationalfinancialinstitutionoranyotherinternationalorganization,”and
Whereas,Taiwan’sparticipationandcontributionsininternationalorganizations,suchastheInternationalCivil
AviationOrganization,theWorldHealthOrganization,andtheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimate
ChangewouldgreatlybenefitboththeUnitedStatesandtheinternationalcommunity,nowthereforebeit
ResolvedbytheSenate:
ThattheSenateoftheStateofVermontreaffirmsthefriendshipbetweentheStateofVermontandTaiwanand
supportsenhancedVermont-TaiwanbilateralrelationsandTaiwan’sparticipationininternationalorganizations,and
beitfurther
Resolved:ThattheSecretaryoftheSenatebedirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontoPresidentDonaldJ.
Trump,PresidentLaiChing-teoftheRepublicofChina(Taiwan),Director-GeneralCharlesLiaooftheTaipei
EconomicandCulturalOfficeinBoston,GovernorPhilipB.Scott,andtheVermontCongressionalDelegation.