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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9
INTRODUCED BY J. POMNICHOWSKI, M. BLASDEL, W. GALT, S. SALES, B. TSCHIDA
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REAFFIRMING MONTANA'S COMMITMENT TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH TAIWAN; WELCOMING THE RESUMPTION OF FREE AND FAIR TRADE TALKS; AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REAFFIRMING MONTANA'S COMMITMENT TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH TAIWAN; WELCOMING THE RESUMPTION OF FREE AND FAIR TRADE TALKS; AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
WHEREAS, Taiwan in the 2017-2018 marketing period was the third-largest export market for Montana wheat, with an estimated $97 million in sales, and the seventh-largest export market for overall U.S. agricultural products, valued at $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2018, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's Ministry of Finance shows that the United States accounted for 11.6% of Taiwan's total global exports and imports in 2017; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports Taiwanese entities invested nearly $11.3 billion in 2017 in the United States, of which $115 million went to research and development projects and $967 million helped to expand U.S. exports, supporting more than 14,000 American jobs; and
WHEREAS, U.S. entities invested $17 billion in Taiwan that same year when Taiwan was the 11th largest trading partner of U.S. goods, with bilateral merchandise trade valued between $68.2 billion and $86.2 billion, depending on the source and how global trade flows are counted; and
WHEREAS, Montana's share of that trade in 2017 amounted to outbound sales to Taiwan of $49 million in commodity goods such as semiconductor machinery, inorganic chemicals, and mineral fuels, with commodity purchases from Taiwan of $17.7 million in 2017, primarily electrical machinery, screws and bolts, and machinery for repair and reexport; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has scheduled its first-ever trade mission to Taipei for March 11-14, 2019, in a year that marks the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Congress and Taiwan signing the Taiwan Relations Act; and
WHEREAS, a 5-week course of study for educators is planned for Taiwanese participants in early June 2019 at the University of Montana-Missoula and at universities in Massachusetts and California; and
WHEREAS, past exchanges between Taiwan and Montana have included regular visits to Montana by the Taiwan Consul General based in Seattle, several legislative delegations from Montana to Taiwan, a 2017 trip to Taiwan in which Montana's U.S. Sen. Steve Daines met then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, biennial agricultural goodwill delegations of the Taiwan Flour Millers, and a 2015 delegation of business and educational leaders led by Governor Steve Bullock in a year that marked the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding encouraging exchanges of trade, market, and economic information; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan and Montana have marked a close relationship through a sister state agreement begun in 1985 and have found through tourism and strong bilateral trade that they share values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, Montana welcomes all opportunities for an even closer economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan and supports increased trade and investment through bilateral free and fair trade agreements, support of the United States-Taiwan Global Cooperation and Training Framework, and capacity-building programs for regional experts in the areas of public health, empowerment of women, energy efficiency, and e-commerce.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
(1) That Montana reaffirms its commitment to a strong and deepening relationship with the people of Taiwan, in particular in this year of the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.
(2) That Montana welcomes periodic trade talks under the United States-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement or related agreements in the interest of free and fair trade.
(3) That in recognition of Taiwan's contributions to a broad range of global issues, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, safeguarding of cyber security, antiterrorism initiatives, and fights against transnational crime, Montana supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations that impact the trade, health, safety, and well-being of the people in Taiwan, including in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Criminal Police Organization.
(4) That the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to all three members of Montana's Congressional Delegation, Governor Bullock, Director General Kuo-shu Fan and Vice Consul KuanTing Chen of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, President Tsai Ing-wen, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
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