[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 98 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 98

  Expressing the sense of Congress relating to a free trade agreement 
                 between the United States and Taiwan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 2003

  Mr. Ramstad (for himself and Mr. Jefferson) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 
                                 Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress relating to 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 January 1, 2002, Taiwan was officially admitted into the World Trade 
        Organization under the name of Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
        Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (TPKM), and this accession will reduce 
        Taiwanese tariffs and begin opening market access to foreign investment;
Whereas on August 6, 2002, the President signed into law H.R. 3009 (Public Law 
        107-210), the Trade Act of 2002, which provides for an expedited 
        procedure for congressional consideration of international trade 
        agreements;
Whereas the United States is Taiwan's largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the 
        eighth largest trading partner of the United States;
Whereas a recent report issued by the United States International Trade 
        Commission found some sectors of the United States economy would 
        increase significantly in percentage terms (motor vehicles, rice, fish, 
        and other food imports 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 an important supplier of electrical machinery and 
        appliances, transport equipment, scientific instruments, and chemical 
        products to Taiwan;
Whereas the United States is a net exporter of agricultural products to Taiwan, 
        and in 2001 Taiwan was the fifth largest market for agricultural 
        products of the United States in terms of value;
Whereas despite Taiwan's significant importing of agricultural products of the 
        United States, the customs territory still holds a 15.2 percent average 
        nominal tariff rate on agricultural imports from the United States; and
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: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 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.
                                 <all>