Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free trade
agreement between the United States and Taiwan.
(Introduced in Senate)SCON 84 IS
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 84
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free
trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 28, 2006
Mr. KYL (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, and Mr. LOTT)
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Finance
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free
trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan.
Whereas for more than 50 years a close relationship has
existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has
been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic
advantage to both countries;
Whereas on November 16, 2005, President Bush noted the
strong ties between the United States and Taiwan, saying
Taiwan is a `free and democratic Chinese society', and
that economic reforms have made it `one of the world's
most important trading partners';
Whereas on January 1, 2002, Taiwan was officially
admitted into the World Trade Organization under the name
of the `Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu,
Kinmen and Matsu' (TPKM), and this accession has reduced
Taiwanese tariffs and has increased market access to
foreign investment;
Whereas on August 6, 2002, the President signed into
law the Trade Act of 2002, which by request, was extended
until June 30, 2007, providing for an expedited procedure
for congressional consideration of international trade
agreements;
Whereas a 2002 report issued by the United States
International Trade Commission found some sectors of the
United States economy, such as exports of motor vehicles,
rice, and fish would increase significantly, and other
food exports to Taiwan would increase by more than 100
percent, if the United States entered into a free trade
agreement with Taiwan;
Whereas the United States is Taiwan's third largest
trading partner, and Taiwan is the eighth largest trading
partner of the United States;
Whereas Taiwan is the sixth largest market for United
States agricultural products, while in terms of per capita
consumption, Taiwan is the world's second largest
consumer, the third largest buyer of United States beef
and corn, the fifth largest buyer of United States
soybeans, and the eighth largest buyer of United States
wheat;
Whereas Taiwan has become the world's largest producer
of information technology hardware, and ranks first in the
production of notebook computers, monitors, motherboards,
and scanners;
Whereas the United States is an important supplier of
electrical machinery and appliances, transport equipment,
scientific instruments, and chemical products to Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan purchases nearly the same amount of
goods and services from the United States as all the
countries with respect to which the United States is
currently negotiating free trade agreements; and
Whereas the United States and Taiwan have already
signed more than 140 bilateral agreements: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), That it is the sense
of the Congress that the United States should increase
trade opportunities with Taiwan by launching
negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with
Taiwan.
