SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 720

	WHEREAS, Taiwan is Texas' fifth-largest foreign market, 
and the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of the Texas economy,
most notably the computer and electronic products, chemicals, 
and machinery industries, would benefit significantly if the 
United States enacted a free trade agreement with Taiwan; and

	WHEREAS, A free trade agreement between the United States 
and Taiwan would substantially reduce or eliminate most import 
quotas, duties, and other trade barriers and expand market 
opportunities for manufactured goods and agricultural products 
from Texas and the entire United States; and

	WHEREAS, The United States has completed or is in the 
process of negotiating free trade agreements with several 
countries and regions; reasons for pursuing a free trade 
agreement with Taiwan include its status as the United States' 
eighth-largest trading partner, its robust economy, and its 
long-standing educational and cultural ties with the 
United States; and

	WHEREAS, Taiwan was admitted to the World Trade 
Organization on January 1, 2001; a free trade agreement between
the United States and Taiwan would extend the coverage of World 
Trade Organization agreements to products, sectors, and 
conditions of trade that are now not adequately covered, and 
it would provide a platform to address issues such as Taiwan's 
15.2 percent average tariff rate on agricultural imports from 
the United States; and

	WHEREAS, Public Law 107-210, the Trade Act of 2002, gives 
the president the authority to enter into trade agreements with 
foreign countries whenever the president determines that one or 
more existing duties or other import restrictions of any foreign 
country or the United States are unduly burdening and restricting 
the foreign trade of the United States; and

	WHEREAS, President George W. Bush, speaking before the 
historic signing of the United States-Australia Free Trade 
Agreement in 2004, emphasized that he supports free and open 
trade because "it has the power to create new wealth for whole 
nations and new opportunities for millions of people" and "has a 
record of creating jobs, raising living standards, and lowering 
consumer prices"; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
79th Legislature, hereby respectfully encourage the president 
of the United States to extend the benefits of free trade by 
enacting a free trade agreement between the United States and 
Taiwan; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward 
official copies of this Resolution to the president of the 
United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives and 
the president of the senate of the United States Congress, and to 
all the members of the Texas delegation to the congress.
                                                                      Armbrister




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on April 29, 2005.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate