State of Vermont Senate Chamber Montpelier, Vermont Senate Resolution By Senators Clarkson, Baruth, Cummings, Kitchel, McCormack, Perchlik, Ram Hinsdale, Westman, and White,
S.R. 18. Senate resolution relating to reaffirming the importance of the friendship and strong bilateral relationships between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and between the State of Vermont and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and supporting Taiwan's greater participation in more multinational organizations.
Whereas, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a vibrant and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship based on our commonly held values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and a free market economy,
and the relationship is as strong as ever, and Whereas, the January 2024 election of Dr. Lai Ching-te as the new President of Taiwan demonstrates the vibrancy of Taiwan’s democracy, and Whereas, according to the latest data, the United States is Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner, and Taiwan is
the United States’ eighth-largest trading partner, and Whereas, in 2023, Taiwan was the seventh-largest consumer of U.S. agricultural goods, totaling $3.7 billion, and the overall two-way trade in goods between the United States and Taiwan totaled approximately $127.5 billion, and Whereas, 2024 marks the 45th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, Pub. L. No. 96-8, which has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations, and Whereas, the Government of Taiwan desires to enter into Bilateral Trade and Avoidance of Double Taxation agreements with the United States, and Whereas, Vermont and Taiwan have long enjoyed productive bilateral relations: in 2023, Taiwan was the second-
largest export destination for Vermont goods worth approximately $218.2 million, and Vermont imported an
estimated $71.18 million in goods from Taiwan; and, in 2020, the establishment of a driver’s license reciprocity agreement was an important incentive for travel between the two jurisdictions, and Whereas, Taiwan also wishes to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State of Vermont to increase the scope of educational exchanges and cooperation between the two jurisdictions, and Whereas, Taiwan seeks to participate in international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization,
the World Health Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate of the State of Vermont reaffirms the importance of the friendship and strong bilateral relationships between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and between the State of Vermont and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and supports Taiwan’s participation in more multinational organizations, and be it further Resolved: That the Senate of the State of Vermont supports the establishment of a memorandum of understanding between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of Vermont for educational exchanges and cooperation, and be
it further Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send a copy of this resolution to President Joseph R.
Biden, President Lai Ching-te of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Director-General Charles Liao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, Governor Philip B. Scott, and to the Vermont Congressional Delegation.
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