SENATE RESOLUTION 37

(By Senator Blair [Mr. President], Weld, Barrett, Rucker, Karnes, Maroney, Stuart, and Nelson)

[Introduced February 21, 2023]

Reaffirming support of the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in strengthening the sisterhood partnership between the State of West Virginia and Taiwan, and reaffirming support for Taiwan's meaningful participation and contributions in international organizations.

Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United States have established a longstanding partnership and share the common values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. In 2022, Taiwan was ranked as one of the freest countries in Asia by Freedom House and was ranked 6th among 177 world economies in terms of economic freedom by the Heritage Foundation, showcasing Taiwan as a beacon of democracy in East Asia; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia is proud of the sisterhood partnership it has enjoyed with Taiwan since August 4, 1980, and in 2023, will celebrate the 43rd anniversary of this sisterhood partnership and looks forward to an even closer relationship; and

Whereas, The United States and Taiwan have forged even stronger economic relations over the last four decades.  As Taiwan is now the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, West Virginia maintains its strong support of Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA) with the United States to boost greater West Virginia exports to Taiwan and bring more Taiwanese investment to West Virginia; and

Whereas, In 2021, the trade volume between West Virginia and Taiwan amounted to nearly $120 million ($90 million in 2020) with Taiwan as our 3rd largest source of import, and 8th largest export market in Asia demonstrating that Taiwan is a notable trading partner of West Virginia. In 2022, the West Virginia-Taiwan office reopened, and West Virginia welcomed more Taiwanese investment such as the $34 million project initiated by the Far Eastern New Century Corporation in Mason County; and

Whereas, In December of 2021, West Virginia University and Taiwan's National Sun Yat-sen University signed an agreement to promote bilateral language exchange programs, making WVU the first prestigious research institution in the state to collaborate with Taiwan; and

Whereas, Taiwan has proven to be a very valuable contributor in a broad range of global issues, and it is necessary for Taiwan to be granted participation in various intergovernmental organizations and mechanisms such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate of West Virginia reaffirms support of the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in strengthening the sisterhood partnership between the state of West Virginia and Taiwan, and reaffirming support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation and contributions in international organizations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Honorable James C. Justice II, Governor of West Virginia, and Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao, of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.