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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is proud of the sisterhood
3relationship it has enjoyed with Taiwan since 1992, marked by
4strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges,
5and tourism; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Republic of China (Taiwan) shares the same
7values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law,
8peace, and prosperity with the United States and the State of
9Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's
11second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the eleventh-largest
12trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade
13reached US$ 68.2 billion in 2017; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed the landmark
15Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) in 1979 to sustain a close bilateral
16relationship between the United States and Taiwan, as well as
17to advance their mutual security and commercial interests, and
18the TRA has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations
19and has helped to preserve peace and stability in the Taiwan
20Strait; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Illinois have enjoyed a

 

 

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1long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of
2future growth, and Taiwan was Illinois's eighth-largest export
3market in Asia in 2017, with US$ 669 million worth of Illinois
4goods exported to Taiwan; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement
6(BTA) between Taiwan and the United States are an important
7step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between our
8countries, thereby increasing Illinois exports to Taiwan and
9creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration
10through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation
11measures; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of "steadfast
13diplomacy" in its international relations; Taiwan is capable of
14fulfilling and willing to fulfill its responsibilities and to
15collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of
16humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth; therefore, be
17it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commemorate the 40th
20anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act enacted by the United
21States Congress and reiterate our support for a closer economic
22and trade partnership between the United States and Taiwan; and
23be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the
2signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United
3States; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's
5participation in international organizations, which impact the
6health, safety, and well-being of its people, and support its
7aspiration to make more contributions to the global community;
8and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
10delivered to all members of the Illinois Congressional
11Delegation and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
12Chicago.