[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 346 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 346

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 16, 2006

  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 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 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 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 
        product while, in terms of per capita consumption, Taiwan is the world's 
        second-largest consumer, the third-largest buyer for United States beef 
        and corn, the fifth-largest buyer for United States soybeans, and the 
        eighth-largest buyer for 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 countries currently negotiating free trade 
        agreements combined; and
Whereas the United States and Taiwan have already signed more than 140 bilateral 
        agreements: 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>