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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, In 2024, U.S.-Taiwan trade reached $158.6 billion, |
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with Taiwan ranking as the United States' sixth-largest export |
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market for American agricultural products and the seventh-largest |
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merchandise trading partner; that same year, Taiwan was fourth on |
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the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom; the nation |
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holds an important position in the global economy as a leader in the |
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world's information and communications technology industry, and it |
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is a trusted partner for economic cooperation and exchanges in |
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industries such as those for smart machinery, the Internet of |
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Things, biotechnology, energy technology, national defense, |
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semiconductors, and the circular economy; 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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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 their robust trade and investment |
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partnership provides a solid foundation for a mutually beneficial |
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bilateral trade agreement to spur job creation, further expand the |
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global market, and secure international, democratic supply chains; |
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Taiwan is Texas' seventh-largest trade partner, with two-way trade |
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reaching over $25.5 billion in 2024; in addition, Governor Greg |
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Abbott traveled to Taiwan last year to open the State of Texas |
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Taiwan Office, which facilitates pragmatic connections and |
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exchanges between our peoples, institutions, and economies; 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 it is a pleasure to join in celebrating the longevity of this |
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unique and vibrant partnership; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th 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, 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) commend Governor Greg Abbott for his efforts to |
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strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations with Taiwan; |
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and |
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(b) celebrate the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the |
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Taiwan Relations Act and the 37th 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 and the |
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Capitol Press Corps as an expression of the sentiment of the Texas |
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House of Representatives and Senate. |