State of South Dakota
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NINETY-FIRST SESSION LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2016 |
358X0694 | HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1015 |
Introduced by: Representatives Hunt, Anderson, Beal, Bolin, Brunner, Conzet, Cronin,
Dryden, Feickert, Gosch, Greenfield (Lana), Haggar (Don), Harrison,
Haugaard, Holmes, Hunhoff (Jean), Langer, Latterell, Mickelson,
Munsterman, Otten (Herman), Qualm, Rasmussen, Ring, Rounds, Rozum,
Russell, Schaefer, Stalzer, Steinhauer, Stevens, Tulson, Verchio, Wiik,
Willadsen, Wink, and Zikmund and Senators Tieszen, Brown, Cammack,
Frerichs, Haggar (Jenna), Monroe, Otten (Ernie), Peterson (Jim), Soholt,
Solano, and White
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Commending Taiwan's presidential election; supporting
Taiwan's efforts to secure entry to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the signing of
the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the
United States; and reaffirming support for increasing Taiwan's international profile and for
strengthening and expanding sister-state ties between South Dakota and Taiwan.
WHEREAS, the State of South Dakota is proud of the sister-state relationship it has enjoyed
with Taiwan since 1984 marked by strong bilateral economic, social and cultural exchange, and
tourism; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule
of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the State of South Dakota; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2016, Taiwan held its sixth direct presidential election,
demonstrating again the strength and vitality of its democratic system and confirming that
Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in Asia and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the United States ranks as Taiwan's third largest trading partner, Taiwan is the
tenth largest trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade reached $67.4 billion in
2014; and
WHEREAS, every other year, Taiwan has sent an agricultural trade goodwill mission to the
United States midwestern region, including South Dakota, to demonstrate Taiwan's continuing
goodwill and willingness to purchase South Dakota agricultural products and the South Dakota
agricultural industry has benefited greatly over the past two decades from the sale of beef,
wheat, and corn to Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, the commercial interaction between South Dakota and Taiwan has grown
substantially with each passing year, resulting in increased economic growth for both Taiwan
and South Dakota; and
WHEREAS, negotiations for a bilateral investment agreement between Taiwan and the
United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade and paving the
way for entering into a free trade agreement between our countries, thereby increasing South
Dakota's exports to Taiwan and creating bilateral investment through tariff reduction and other
trade facilitation measures; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan, seeking to contribute to greater regional integration in the Asia-Pacific
region and promotion of bilateral investment and trade relations with the United States,
applauds the United States' announcement to expand TPP membership in the future to include
other countries, such as Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the TPP would contribute substantially to the depth,
viability, and quality of the TPP. Additionally, Taiwan's strong economic weight in the
Asia-Pacific and the world, its well-developed knowledge base and highly skilled workforce,
its vital position along regional supply chains, and the positive economic and strategic gains for
all make Taiwan an ideal candidate economy for the TPP's expansion:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature
commends and supports Taiwan's mature and vital democracy as well as celebrates the
thirty-second anniversary of sister-state relations with Taiwan; endorses the signing of the
Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States;
and continues to support Taiwan's appropriate participation in international organizations which
impact the health, safety, and well-being of its people.