A house RESOLUTION

 

To Commend Taiwan for its relations with the United States and the state of South Carolina, to support constant talks under the "US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade" and a "US-Taiwan Avoid Double Taxation Agreement" as Taiwanese companies are looking for a diverse and free market investment in the United States, and to encourage the state government to organize a trade delegation to Taiwan to attract more investments and city governments to participate in the annual "Smart City" forum in Taiwan.

 

Whereas, Taiwan and the United States of America are long standing allies who both deeply cherish the common values of democracy, peace, and prosperity; therefore, Taiwan continues to pursue integrated diplomacy and serves the best interests of the Indo-Pacific region by deepening ties with other like-minded nations, safeguarding regional security, and utilizing Taiwan's technological and economic success to promote partnerships on mutual benefits; and

 

Whereas, China repeatedly exerts economic coercion, stages military drills directed toward Taiwan, and distorts United Nations Resolution 2758 (XXVI) excluding Taiwan's participation from international organizations, which results in global challenges to rules-based international order and aggressive authoritarian expansionism; and

 

Whereas, Taiwan is the United States' eighth-largest trading partner, and the United States is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner, with an estimated 128 billion dollars' worth of trade, and Taiwan was South Carolina's fourteenth largest import and ninth largest export market in 2023. The United States and Taiwan's first agreement entry into force under "US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade" includes commitments on anticorruption, good regulatory practices, customs administration and trade facilitation, and small and medium-sized enterprises; and

 

Whereas, the procurement of F-16 fighter jets by Taiwan are assembled in Greenville, creating many local jobs; South Carolina was the first Southeastern State to establish a trade office in Taiwan in 2022, resulting in a Taiwan EV delegation visiting South Carolina to seek business opportunities; and a successful Taiwan seminar was held in May 2024 by the Walker Institute. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend Taiwan for its relations with the United States and the State of South Carolina, support constant talks under the "US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade" and a "US-Taiwan Avoid Double Taxation Agreement" as Taiwanese companies are looking for a diverse and free market investment in the United States, encourage the state government to organize a trade delegation to Taiwan to attract more investments and city governments to participate in the annual "Smart City" forum in Taiwan.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Governor Henry McMaster, Secretary of State Mark Hammond, the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, and Mr. Elliot Wang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta.

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