[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 170 (Friday, October 12, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             A HAPPY DOUBLE TEN DAY TO THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2018

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, Wednesday, October 10th is Taiwan's 
National Day--also known as Double Ten Day. I would like to take this 
opportunity now to offer my best wishes to the people of Taiwan.
  As my colleagues are aware, Taiwan is a close friend, as well as 
security and trade partner of the United States. This year, I was happy 
to cosponsor and vote for H.R. 535, the Taiwan Travel Act. And I was 
even happier to see the bill pass the House, the Senate and be signed 
into law by President Trump on March 16, 2018. This important law 
expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Government 
should encourage visits between officials from the United States and 
Taiwan at all levels. Furthermore, it states it should be U.S. policy 
to allow U.S. officials to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese 
counterparts; permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the U.S. 
to meet with U.S. officials; and encourages the Taipei Economic and 
Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) to conduct business in the 
United States. Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more with this policy.
  In my home state of Iowa, we are enthusiastic to build on our already 
strong trade ties. Just this past September, Taiwan renewed its pledge 
to purchase a total of up to 3.9 million metric tons of soybeans valued 
at up to $1.56 billion in 2018 and 2019. Under the revised deal, the 
U.S. share of soybeans purchased by Taiwan will increase to between 80% 
and 90% of total Taiwanese purchases. It was also announced that the 
new agreement with Taiwan will result in 75% of Taiwan's total soybean 
purchases coming from Iowa.
  As President Trump's Administration scans the globe looking for 
bilateral trade partners, Taiwan holds as much promise as ever for the 
U.S. Iowa and every state in the nation would benefit from the signing 
of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S., which would 
eliminate tariffs on most products and increase Taiwanese demand and 
Iowa exports. Though a small country with a population of 23.5 million, 
Taiwan has the potential to become a strong export market for Iowa and 
the U.S. Taiwan is a major importer of our nation's agriculture 
missions to the U.S. Other sectors such as Iowa's strong wind energy 
sector have potential for bilateral cooperation as well.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I wish the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten 
Day. And I take this opportunity to once again echo the words of Barry 
Goldwater when he said, ``I have great affection for the Chinese 
people, their culture, their skills, and their potential.''

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