House joint resolution NO. 10
By Request of the ****
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.
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan are bonded
by their shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and a
free market economy; and
WHEREAS, trade between the United States and
Taiwan contributes meaningfully to our mutual economic growth; and
WHEREAS,
Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner of the United States with bilateral
trade totaling $113.9 billion in 2021, while both sides welcomed the launch of the
U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade to further develop economic ties
and facilitate trade; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan and Montana have marked a close
relationship through a sister state agreement begun in 1985 and established the
Montana Asia Trade Office in 2021 to expand bilateral trade and to promote the
partnership with the private sectors to create favorable economic development;
and
WHEREAS, Montana's share of that trade in 2021
amounted to outbound sales to Taiwan of $53 million in commodity goods, such as
semiconductor machinery, inorganic chemicals, and machine parts, with commodity
purchases from Taiwan of $45 million in 2021 that primarily included semi-manufactured
platinum metal, electrical machines for audio and video recording, and
self-tapping screws of iron and steel; and
WHEREAS, based on the principles of the
U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative in 2020, Taiwan intends to further collaborate
with Montana on education, technology, and cultural and economic exchanges by
signing memoranda of understanding to contribute positively to the
strengthening of education and learning-related linkages between both sides;
and
WHEREAS, Montana welcomes all opportunities for
an even closer economic, educational, 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 e-commerce.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate
and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
(1) That the state of Montana recognizes the
importance of a strong and enduring partnership with Taiwan.
(2) That the state of Montana welcomes periodic
trade talks under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade or related
agreements in the interest of free and fair trade.
(3) That the Secretary of State send copies of this
resolution to the Department of Commerce, the Montana Congressional Delegation,
the Governor, the Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Director of
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.
INTRODUCED
BY S. Vinton, S. Fitzpatrick, M. Regier, J. Ellsworth, R. Knudsen, K. Bogner