Senate Resolution 109 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 109 BY JOCHUM , BLACK , and WILHELM A Resolution reaffirming Iowa’s commitment to its 1 relationship with Taiwan and supporting Taiwan’s 2 efforts to participate in the international 3 community. 4 WHEREAS, the relationship between the Republic 5 of China (Taiwan) and the United States is marked 6 by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural 7 exchange, and tourism; and 8 WHEREAS, the State of Iowa’s strong relationship 9 with Taiwan is demonstrated by its sister state and 10 sister city relationships; and 11 WHEREAS, Taiwan shares with the United States 12 and the State of Iowa the common values of freedom, 13 democracy, human rights, and rule of law; and 14 WHEREAS, the United States ranks as Taiwan’s third 15 largest trading partner, Taiwan is the eleventh largest 16 trading partner of the United States, and bilateral 17 trade between the two countries reached $63 billion in 18 2012; and 19 WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Iowa have enjoyed 20 a long and mutually beneficial relationship and 21 anticipate continuing growth, with Taiwan ranking as 22 Iowa’s 20th largest export destination in 2012, with 23 over $92 million worth of Iowa goods shipped to Taiwan, 24 including food, machinery, chemicals, miscellaneous 25 manufactured commodities, and agricultural 26 products; and 27 WHEREAS, Taiwan, seeking to contribute to greater 28 -1- LSB 5695XS (5) 85 jr/nh 1/ 3

S.R. 109 regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region and the 1 promotion of bilateral investment and trade relations 2 with the United States, applauded the United States’ 3 announcement of its intent to join the Trans-Pacific 4 Partnership (TPP), the proposed 21st century trade 5 agreement between the United States and 11 other 6 Asia-Pacific Rim countries, and also to expand TPP 7 membership in the future to include other countries, 8 such as Taiwan; and 9 WHEREAS, Taiwan should be included in regional 10 economic integration due to its status as an important 11 economic power, a dynamic market economy, and leading 12 supplier of high-tech products; and 13 WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 17th largest economy, the 14 14th largest exporter, and the 16th largest importer 15 in the world and also ranks as the 17th most free 16 country in the world according to the 2014 index of 17 economic freedom, ranking 5th out of 41 economies in 18 the Asia-Pacific region; and 19 WHEREAS, negotiations for a bilateral investment 20 treaty between Taiwan and the United States are an 21 important step toward further strengthening bilateral 22 trade and paving the way for entering into a free trade 23 agreement between our two nations, thereby increasing 24 Iowa’s exports to Taiwan and creating bilateral 25 investment and technical collaboration through tariff 26 reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and 27 WHEREAS, Taiwan’s absence from international 28 organizations, such as the United Nations Framework 29 Convention on Climate Change, has hampered Taiwan’s 30 -2- LSB 5695XS (5) 85 jr/nh 2/ 3

S.R. 109 ability to participate in global climate initiatives 1 and to respond to natural disasters such as Typhoon 2 Haiyan which caused serious damage to the Philippines 3 in November 2013; and 4 WHEREAS, Taiwan can be a valuable and constructive 5 partner in the international response to the 6 adverse effects of climate change and severe weather 7 emergencies, evidenced by Taiwan’s speedy and generous 8 response to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the 9 Philippines with a donation of over $10 million; NOW 10 THEREFORE, 11 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 12 reaffirms its commitment to the strong and deepening 13 sister city and sister state relationships between 14 Taiwan and the State of Iowa; and 15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate supports 16 Taiwan’s efforts to secure entry to the Trans-Pacific 17 Partnership and endorses the signing of a bilateral 18 investment treaty with the United States; and 19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate extends 20 its support for Taiwan’s appropriate participation in 21 international organizations, such as the United Nations 22 Framework Convention on Climate Change, that impact the 23 health, safety, and well-being of Taiwan. 24 -3- LSB 5695XS (5) 85 jr/nh 3/ 3