WHEREAS, the United States and the Republic of China on Taiwan, commonly known as Taiwan, maintain an important trade relationship; and

WHEREAS, despite the fact that Taiwan only recently became a member of the World Trade Organization and that it has no formal trade agreement with the United States, Taiwan is the fourteenth largest trading nation in the world, the United States’ eighth largest trading partner, and as a center for international trade it is vital to the economic prosperity of this State and of the United States; and

WHEREAS, American businesses and workers have benefited greatly from this dynamic trade relationship, most recently in the computer and electronics sector; and

WHEREAS, as a center for international trade Taiwan is a gateway to other Pacific Rim markets for United States exports, helping to preserve peace and stability within the entire region; and

WHEREAS, United States agricultural producers have been particularly under represented in the list of United States exports to the region, despite the importance of the market for growers of corn, wheat, and soybeans; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has clearly emerged as one of the United States’ most important allies in Asia and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware and Taiwan have established a sister-state relationship symbolizing the close friendship between the people of Delaware and the people of Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, this State seeks to encourage and expand mutually beneficial commercial relationships with Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s 23,000,000 people are not represented in the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has in recent years repeatedly expressed its strong desire to participate in the United Nations and has much to contribute to the work and funding of the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations will help maintain peace and stability in Asia and the Pacific; and

WHEREAS, the United States should promote the values of freedom, democracy, and a commitment to open markets and the free exchange of both goods and ideas at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan shares these values with the United States and has struggled throughout the past 50 years to create what is today an open, thriving, and modern democracy that routinely holds free and fair elections and has dramatically improved its record on human rights; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has forged an open, market-based economy and a thriving democracy based on free elections and the freedom of dissent; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the United States to encourage the development of both these institutions; and

WHEREAS, the United States must continue to support the growth of democracy and ongoing market opening in Taiwan if this relationship is to evolve and reflect the changing nature of the global system in the 21st Century; and

WHEREAS, the United States needs to support partner countries that are lowering trade barriers; and

WHEREAS, a free trade agreement would not only help Taiwan’s economy dramatically expand its already growing entrepreneurial class, but it would also serve an important political function; and

WHEREAS, in the interest of supporting, preserving, and protecting the democratic fabric of the government of Taiwan, it has been made clear that the United States supports the withdrawal of missiles deployed as a threat against Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China; and

WHEREAS, the United States has an obligation to its allies and to its own citizens to encourage economic growth, market opening, and the destruction of trade barriers as a means of raising living standards across the board; and

WHEREAS, a free trade agreement with Taiwan would be a positive step toward accomplishing all of these goals;

WHEREAS, direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation forums and programs is crucial for all parts of the world, especially with today’s greater potential for cross-border spread of various infectious diseases; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s achievements in the field of health are substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of the infectious diseases of cholera, smallpox, and the plague, and being the first Asian nation to eradicate polio and the first country in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Taiwanese counterpart have enjoyed close collaboration on a wide range of public health issues; and

WHEREAS, in recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to financially and technically assist the international aid and health activities supported by the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s population of 23 million people is larger than that of 75% of the World Health Organization member states; and

WHEREAS, the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan’s participation in appropriate international organizations; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s participation in the activities of the World Health Organization could bring many benefits to the state of health not only in Taiwan but also regionally and globally;

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 142nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate thereof concurring therein, that the Congress and the President of the United States are respectfully requested and urged to strengthen trade relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan (Taiwan) and to support the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly strongly urges the pursuit of a policy that includes an initiative directed at the World Health Organization to give Taiwan appropriate and meaningful participation in the activities of the World Health Organization in a manner that is consistent with the organization’s requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly strongly urges the pursuit of a policy that includes an initiative directed at the World Trade Organization to give Taiwan appropriate and meaningful participation in the activities of the World Trade Organization in a manner that is consistent with the organization’s requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress and the President of the United States are respectfully requested and urged to support a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitably prepared and authenticated copies of this Resolution be sent to:

The President of the United States,

The United States Secretary of State,

The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare,

The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,

The President of the United States Senate,

The Government of Taiwan,

The Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Washington, D. C.,

The World Trade Organization,

The United States Trade Representative,

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, and

The members of Delaware’s Congressional delegation.

SPONSOR:	Rep. Roy & Sen. McDowell
	Reps. Miro, Hudson, DiPinto, Keeley