[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORT OF TIFA WITH TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2013

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to endorse the resumption of 
Trade Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations between the 
United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan). After five years of 
inaction, I was pleased to see these important talks get underway once 
again.
   I believe that much progress was made during the previous rounds of 
TIFA talks and that improvements were made in intellectual property 
protection in particular. Furthermore, I am aware that many other 
challenges, including the need for even stronger intellectual property 
protection safeguards and market access for many American products, 
need to be resolved.
   I have had the pleasure of meeting with many officials of the 
Taiwanese government, and I am pleased to hear of their willingness to 
come forward and resume talks to improve our mutual trading 
relationship. Many of these trading differences can be best resolved 
through the resumption of active bilateral negotiations.
   Taiwan currently serves as our 10th largest goods trading partner, 
and has been a long-standing political ally and partner to the United 
States. Bilateral goods and services trade totaled $85 billion in 2011. 
Increased economic relations between the United States and Taiwan will 
provide significant economic advantages to both countries.
   I am proud to express my strong support for strengthening the 
bilateral relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Taiwan is 
an important ally and trading partner, and we must continue to further 
our relationship.

                          ____________________