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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The longstanding bonds of friendship between the |
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United States and Taiwan, embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of |
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1979, continue to yield important economic, social, strategic, and |
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cultural benefits; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan ranks as the United States' ninth largest |
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trading partner, and bilateral trade reached $114 billion in 2021; |
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that same year, Taiwan was the sixth largest export market for U.S. |
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agricultural products; the robust U.S.-Taiwan trade and investment |
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partnership provides a solid foundation for a mutually beneficial |
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bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to spur job creation, further |
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expand the global market, and secure international supply chains; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan is committed to helping address global |
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challenges, from humanitarian crises to nontraditional security |
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threats; moreover, the country has emerged as an important partner |
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in pandemic prevention, bolstering unprecedented international |
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support for Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health |
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Assembly (WHA); and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups |
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partner with the United States on a range of issues to promote our |
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common values of freedom, democracy, and human rights; these |
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partnerships build on the cooperative tradition of prior |
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initiatives, such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework |
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(GCTF), which advances Taiwanese leadership in such arenas as |
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democratization, human rights, women's empowerment, and public |
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health; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1988, Texas and Taiwan have maintained a |
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sister-state relationship, and they enjoy particularly close |
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economic ties; Taiwan is Texas' 10th largest overseas market, and |
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Texas exported over $7.69 billion in goods and services to Taiwan in |
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2020; the establishment of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in |
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Taiwan could enhance the participation of small- and medium-sized |
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enterprises in trade and investment and advance sister-state ties |
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between Texas and Taiwan; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas and the United States have benefited |
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immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan, |
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and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan |
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works to enhance its presence in the international community; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express its support for the strengthening of our partnership |
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with Taiwan and for the expansion of Taiwan's role on the global |
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stage; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives and Senate |
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hereby: |
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(a) express support for a bilateral trade agreement between |
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the United States and Taiwan; |
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(b) express support for Taiwan's meaningful participation |
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in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, the World |
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Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation Organization, |
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the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and |
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other organizations; |
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(c) express support for a Texas Trade and Investment Office |
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in Taiwan; and |
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(d) celebrate the 44th anniversary of the enactment of the |
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Taiwan Relations Act and the 35th anniversary of the sister-state |
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relationship between the State of Texas and Taiwan; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston as an |
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expression of the sentiment of the Texas House of Representatives |
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and Senate. |