HR 9113 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution in support of friendship and trade with
3	Taiwan.
4
5	WHEREAS, for more than 50 years a close relationship has
6	existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of
7	enormous economic and cultural advantage to both countries, and
8	WHEREAS, Taiwan has demonstrated a commitment to democratic
9	ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and free and
10	fair elections routinely held in a multiparty system, as
11	evidenced by the March 18, 2000, election of Chen Shui-bian as
12	Taiwan's new president, and
13	WHEREAS, Taiwan is a democracy with a complementary economy
14	to the United States and a peace-loving culture that shares our
15	cherished values of freedom and human rights, and
16	WHEREAS, on January 1, 2002, Taiwan was officially admitted
17	into the World Trade Organization under the name of Separate
18	Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (TPKM),
19	and this will reduce Taiwanese tariffs and open market access to
20	foreign investment, and
21	WHEREAS, the United States is Taiwan's largest trading
22	partner and Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner, the
23	tenth largest export market, and the fifth largest agricultural
24	export market for the United States, and
25	WHEREAS, the International Trade Commission (ITC) reports
26	that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and the United
27	States would help to increase United States exports to Taiwan by
28	up to an estimated 16 percent (worth $3.4 billion in United
29	States currency) and total economic trade between the United
30	States and Taiwan by up to $10.4 billion in United States
31	dollars, and
32	WHEREAS, the people of the State of Florida derive great
33	benefit from our relationship of economic cooperation and
34	cultural exchange with the people of Taiwan, as evidenced by the
35	establishment of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
36	Florida and the State of Florida Taipei Office in Taiwan, and
37	WHEREAS, Florida's exports to Taiwan in 2002 were
38	approximately $62 million, a 25 percent increase over 2001
39	exports, and
40	WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health
41	Organization would promote its ability to adequately safeguard
42	its population against infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS,
43	Dengue Fever, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), NOW,
44	THEREFORE,
45
46	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
47	Florida:
48
49	That the Members of the House of Representatives of the
50	State of Florida support the negotiation of a Free Trade
51	Agreement between the United States and Taiwan.
52	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Members of the House of
53	Representatives of the State of Florida support Taiwan's efforts
54	to be accepted as an observer at the World Health Assembly and
55	the Health Network of the World Health Organization.