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2023 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTIO N 126
February 16, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives KITCHENS, AUGUST, PLUMER,
TRANEL, BILLINGS, MCGUIRE, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, BEHNKE, BINSFELD,
CALLAHAN, DITTRICH, EDMING, JACOBSON, KRUG, MAGNAFICI, O'CONNOR,
ORTIZ-VELEZ, PENTERMAN, RETTINGER, SCHMIDT, SCHUTT, SWEARINGEN, TITTL
and WITTKE, cosponsored by Senators TESTIN, JACQUE, ROYS and LARSON.
Referred to Committee on Rules.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin's commitment to the strengthening and
deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan;
reaffirming Wisconsin's support of the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting
Taiwan's signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and
continuing support for increasing Taiwan's international profile.
Whereas, the State of Wisconsin established in 1986 the sister-state
relationship with Taiwan Province, Republic of China (Taiwan), and Wisconsin and
Taiwan have enjoyed strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges, and
tourism; and
Whereas, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights,
the rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the State of
Wisconsin; and
Whereas, in 2022, the United States ranked as Taiwan's second-largest trading
partner, Taiwan ranked as the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States,
and bilateral trade reached an estimated $160 billion; and
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Whereas, Taiwan imported nearly $4.4 billion worth of U.S. farm products in
2022, making it the seventh-largest market for U.S. agricultural products overall,
the fourth-largest market on a per capita basis, and the seventh-largest market for
U.S. soybeans and corn; and
Whereas, due to its high quality produce, the U.S. remains one of Taiwan's
largest sources of agricultural products, supplying more than one-fifth of the
country's major agricultural imports; and
Whereas, Taiwan and the State of Wisconsin have enjoyed a long and mutually
beneficial relationship with the prospect of future growth, and Taiwan was
Wisconsin's sixth-largest export market in Asia in 2022, with $307 million worth of
Wisconsin goods exported to Taiwan; and
Whereas, to strengthen the Taiwan-Wisconsin bilateral economic relationship,
it is essential to support Wisconsin businesses to enhance their economic
engagement with Taiwan based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (P.L. 96-8, 22
U.S.C. 3301); section 4, subsection (b), of the act stipulates that “[w]henever the laws
of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments,
or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect
to Taiwan”; and
Whereas, negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement between Taiwan and
the United States is an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade
between our countries, thereby increasing Wisconsin's exports to Taiwan and
creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction
and other trade facilitation measures; and
Whereas, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of “steadfast diplomacy” in its
international relations and Taiwan is capable of, and willing to, fulfill its
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responsibilities and to collaborate with the world to face challenges such as
humanitarian aid and disease control; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin
Legislature reaffirms its commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the
sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Wisconsin Legislature reaffirms its support for the Taiwan
Relations Act; and, be it further
Resolved, That Wisconsin endorses Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of
a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States, and reiterates its support for
a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan;
and, be it further
Resolved, That Wisconsin continues to support Taiwan's appropriate
participation in international organizations that impact the health, safety, and
well-being of the people of Taiwan and supports Taiwan's aspiration to make more
contributions in international societies; and, be it further
Resolved, That the chief clerk of the assembly is hereby directed to transmit
copies of this resolution to the members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation
and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.
(END)
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