HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1015

        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.

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Adopted by the House of Representatives,

Concurred in by the Senate,

Dean Wink Speaker of the House	Arlene Kvislen Chief Clerk of the House
Matt Michels President of the Senate	Kay Johnson Secretary of the Senate