SR 21 (LSB 2624SS (1) 86)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 21

BY  DOTZLER, HART, KAPUCIAN, SCHNEIDER, and SODDERS

A Resolution reaffirming Iowa’s commitment to its relationship with Taiwan and supporting Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the international community.

   WHEREAS, the relationship between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United States is marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchange, and tourism; and
   WHEREAS, the State of Iowa’s ties with Taiwan are demonstrated by its sister-state and sister-city relationships; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan shares with the United States and the State of Iowa the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law; and
   WHEREAS, in 2013 the United States ranked as Taiwan’s 3rd largest trading partner and Taiwan ranked as the United States’ 12th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade of $63.6 billion; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan has consistently imported between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually worth of United States farm products, and is the 7th largest market for United States agricultural products and the world’s 2nd largest buyer per-capita of United States agricultural goods; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Iowa have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial trade relationship and anticipate continuing trade growth, with Taiwan ranking as Iowa’s 16th largest export destination in 2013; and
   WHEREAS, $97.4 million worth of goods from the State of Iowa were shipped to Taiwan in 2013 and comprised, in order, food manufactures, miscellaneous manufactured commodities, chemicals, machinery, paper, and computer and electronic products; and
   WHEREAS, the State of Iowa hosted a Taiwan Agricultural Goodwill Mission delegation in 2013, reaffirming the cordial relations between Iowa and Taiwan and the ongoing mutual trade benefits derived from Taiwan’s reliable imports of Iowa farm products, which in 2013 totaled $63.5 million for food manufactures and agricultural products combined; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan, seeking to contribute to greater regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region and promotion of bilateral investment and trade relations with the United States, should be included in regional economic integration based on its status as the world’s 19th largest economy, 20th largest exporter, and 18th largest importer, according to a 2013 World Trade Organization report; and also due to its status as an important economic power, a dynamic market economy, and leading supplier of high-tech products; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan ranks as the 17th most free economy in the world according to the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom, and the 5th most free economy among 42 economies in the Asia-Pacific region ranked only behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand; and
   WHEREAS, according to the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development’s 2014 report, Taiwan ranks as the 13th most competitive economy worldwide and the 4th most competitive economy in the Asian Pacific; and
   WHEREAS, negotiations for a bilateral investment agreement between Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade and paving the way for entering into a free trade agreement between our two nations, thereby increasing the State of Iowa’s exports to Taiwan and creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan has been and can continue to be a valuable and constructive partner in the international response to the adverse effects of climate change and severe weather emergencies as evidenced by its speedy and generous response to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate reaffirms its commitment to the strong and deepening sister-city and sister-state relationships between Taiwan and the State of Iowa, its support for Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a bilateral investment agreement with the United States, and its support for Taiwan’s appropriate participation in international organizations that impact Taiwan’s health, safety, and well-being; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to United States Secretary of State John F. Kerry, President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois.