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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Taiwan is Texas' fifth-largest foreign market, and |
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the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of the Texas economy, |
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most notably the computer and electronic products, chemicals, and |
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machinery industries, would benefit significantly if the United |
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States enacted a free trade agreement with Taiwan; and |
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WHEREAS, A free trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan |
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would substantially reduce or eliminate most import quotas, duties, |
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and other trade barriers and expand market opportunities for |
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manufactured goods and agricultural products from Texas and the |
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entire U.S.; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. has completed or is in the process of |
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negotiating free trade agreements with several countries and |
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regions; reasons for pursuing a free trade agreement with Taiwan |
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include its status as the United States' eighth-largest trading |
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partner, its robust economy, and its long-standing educational and |
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cultural ties with the U.S.; and |
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WHEREAS, The island nation of Taiwan has flourished not only |
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as an economic leader, but also as a sophisticated democracy; |
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unlike citizens of mainland China, the people of Taiwan can speak |
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out freely without fear of political repression; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan was admitted to the World Trade Organization |
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(WTO) on January 1, 2001; a free trade agreement between the U.S. |
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and Taiwan would extend the coverage of WTO agreements to products, |
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sectors, and conditions of trade not adequately covered, and it |
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would provide a platform to address issues such as Taiwan's 15.2 |
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percent average tariff rate on agricultural imports from the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, Public Law 107-210, the Trade Act of 2002, allows |
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the president, in consultation with the United States Congress, to |
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enter into trade agreements with foreign countries whenever the |
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president determines that one or more existing duties or other |
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import restrictions of any foreign country or the United States are |
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unduly burdening and restricting the foreign trade of the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, President George W. Bush, speaking before the |
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historic signing of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement in |
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2004, emphasized that he supports free and open trade because "it |
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has the power to create new wealth for whole nations and new |
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opportunities for millions of people" and "has a record of creating |
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jobs, raising living standards, and lowering consumer prices"; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby respectfully encourage the president of the |
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United States and the congress to extend the benefits of free trade |
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by enacting a free trade agreement between the United States and |
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Taiwan; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the Texas House of |
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Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to the |
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president of the United States, to the speaker of the house of |
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representatives and the president of the senate of the United |
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States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to |
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the congress. |