State of Vermont Senate Chamber Montpelier, Vermont Senate Resolution By Senators Kitchel, Cummings, Ram Hinsdale, Watson, and Westman,
S.R. 10. Senate resolution relating to reaffirming the friendship between Vermont and the Republic of China
(Taiwan) and supporting enhanced United States–Taiwan and Vermont–Taiwan bilateral relations.
Whereas, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a vibrant, mutually beneficial bilateral relationship based on our common values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and a free market economy,
and the relationship is as strong as it has ever been, and Whereas, with respect to United States–Taiwan trade, the United States is Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the eighth-largest trading partner of the United States; in 2022, the two-way trade in goods between the United States and Taiwan totaled an estimated $135.56 billion; and Taiwan was the sixth-largest purchaser of American agricultural goods totaling $4.4 billion, and Whereas, regarding Vermont–Taiwan trade, in 2022, Taiwan was the second-largest export destination for Vermont goods worth approximately $465 million, and Vermont imported an estimated $100 million in goods from Taiwan, and Whereas, the Government of Taiwan has expressed a desire to reach a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States, which would significantly increase Vermont’s exports to Taiwan, bilateral investment, and jobs in Vermont, and Whereas, Vermont and Taiwan have enjoyed a long history of productive bilateral relations, including entering into a driver’s license reciprocity agreement in 2020 and facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two jurisdictions, and Whereas, the Government of Taiwan desires to establish a memorandum of understanding with the State of
Vermont to increase educational exchanges and cooperation, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate of the State of Vermont reaffirms the friendship between Vermont and the Republic of China
(Taiwan) and supports enhanced United States–Taiwan and Vermont–Taiwan bilateral relations, 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 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 Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Director-General Jonathan Sun of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, Governor Philip B. Scott, and the Vermont Congressional Delegation.
VT LEG #369212 v.1