HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.280
Reps. Jaime Greene, Morgan, Bezotte, Breen, Byrnes, Fox,
Haadsma, Hope, MacDonell, Rheingans, Schuette and Wilson offered the
following resolution:
1 A resolution to express our commitment to strengthening and
2 deepening ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan.
3 Whereas, Taiwan shares values of freedom, democracy, human
4 rights, rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States
5 and the state of Michigan; and
6 Whereas, Taiwan and the United States are key partners in
7 trade. The United States ranks as Taiwan’s second-largest trading
8 partner, and in 2022, Taiwan was the United States’ ninth-largest
9 goods trading partner. Bilateral trade in goods and services
10 reached nearly 160 billion dollars that year; and
11 Whereas, Taiwan is a particularly important market for United
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1 States agricultural products. Taiwan imported 4.4 billion dollars’
2 worth of United States farm products in 2022, making it the sixth-
3 largest export market for United States food and agricultural
4 products. In 2023, Taiwan was our nation’s sixth-largest export
5 market for soybeans and our eighth-largest export market for corn,
6 individually. This is particularly impressive when considered on a
7 per capita basis, as Taiwan has a relatively small population
8 compared to most of our large agricultural export markets. Due to
9 our nation’s high-quality produce, the United States remains one of
10 Taiwan’s largest sources of agricultural products, supplying more
11 than one-fifth of Taiwan’s agricultural imports in 2022; and
12 Whereas, Taiwan and the state of Michigan have enjoyed a long
13 and mutually beneficial relationship. Michigan has a vibrant
14 Taiwanese American community that has enriched the state’s culture,
15 cuisine, and commerce for decades. Taiwan was Michigan’s tenth-
16 largest export market in Asia in 2023, with over 247 million
17 dollars’ worth of Michigan goods exported to Taiwan that year. In
18 early March 2024, the state of Michigan opened the Michigan Taiwan
19 Office to promote further investment by Taiwanese firms in our
20 state. There is great potential for future growth if we continue to
21 deepen our ties with Taiwan; and
22 Whereas, In conducting business with Taiwan, Michigan
23 businesses should refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan.” In 1979, the United
24 States enacted the Taiwan Relations Act to provide for the
25 continuation of relations between the people of the United States
26 and the people on the island of Taiwan. Section 4(b)(1) of the act
27 provides: “Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate
28 to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar
29 entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with
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1 respect to Taiwan.” Thus, it is legitimate for Michigan businesses
2 to refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan” when conducting business and
3 establishing ties with Taiwan; and
4 Whereas, The United States is actively taking steps to
5 strengthen bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan. On
6 June 1, 2023, representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan
7 and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the
8 United States signed a bilateral trade agreement under the U.S.-
9 Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, and Congress enacted
10 legislation to approve and implement that agreement in August 2023.
11 Negotiations regarding a second agreement are ongoing. While this
12 progress is encouraging, an avoidance of double taxation agreement
13 for Taiwan has not yet been enacted, and Taiwan remains excluded
14 from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. The United
15 States could take further action to encourage bilateral investment
16 and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other
17 trade facilitation measures; and
18 Whereas, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of “steadfast
19 diplomacy” in its foreign relations, prioritizing mutual assistance
20 and robust relationships with governments that share common values.
21 Taiwan is capable of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities
22 and collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of
23 humanitarian aid and disease control; now, therefore, be it
24 Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we express our
25 commitment to the strengthening and deepening of ties between the
26 state of Michigan and Taiwan; and be it further
27 Resolved, That we urge all enterprises in Michigan to refer to
28 Taiwan as “Taiwan,” consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act; and
29 be it further
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1 Resolved, That we urge the United States and Taiwan to enter
2 into additional bilateral trade agreements and an avoidance of
3 double taxation agreement; and be it further
4 Resolved, That we support the inclusion of Taiwan in the Indo-
5 Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity; and be it further
6 Resolved, That we support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in
7 international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World
8 Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization,
9 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the
10 International Criminal Police Organization, which impact the
11 health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan; and be it
12 further
13 Resolved, That we support Taiwan’s aspiration to make more
14 contributions in international societies; and be it further
15 Resolved, That we support Taiwan in its efforts to increase
16 its international profile.
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