Washington,
D.C. –
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is leading an effort to expand trade with Taiwan.
The
Constitution gives Congress control over trade policy, and it is the
responsibility of the executive branch to pursue trade policies and trade
agreements in line with those supported by Congress. In line with this, Senator
Toomey has introduced a Senate resolution detailing the need for a trade
agreement with Taiwan.
“Building
closer trade ties between the United States and Taiwan is a win-win for both
countries,” said Senator Toomey. “American workers and manufacturers
would have more customers, American consumers would have access to more
affordable goods, both economies would grow faster, and America would
strengthen its relationship with a key regional ally and increase our economic engagement
in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate should pass this resolution and the
incoming Biden administration should make a trade agreement with Taiwan a
priority.”
Senator
Toomey’s colleague from Pennsylvania, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa. 14th),
has introduced a companion resolution in the House.
The
Senate resolution, which is available in its entirety below, is cosponsored by
Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman
(R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn
(R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas),
Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy
Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy
(R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.),
Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis
(R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
Background:
· The United States
is currently Taiwan’s second largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the tenth
largest trading partner of the United States in goods and the eleventh largest
trading partner overall.
· Trade with Taiwan
supports an estimated 208,000 United States jobs according to estimates of the
United States Department of Commerce as of 2015.
· Bilateral trade in
goods between Taiwan and the United States increased from $62,000,000,000 in
2010 to $86,000,000,000 in 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Title: Expressing the sense of the
Senate that the United States should initiate negotiations to enter into a free
trade agreement with Taiwan.
Whereas,
pursuant to section 2(b)(1) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(1)),
it is the policy of the United States to “promote extensive, close, and
friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the
United States and the people on Taiwan”;
Whereas
the friendship between the United States and Taiwan is based on a shared
commitment to individual and economic freedom, shared values, and an
appreciation for the blessings of liberty and democracy;
Whereas
the United States and Taiwan enjoy a robust trade partnership, marked by the
exchange of goods and services and international travel;
Whereas
Taiwan has shown an interest in strengthening its economic relationship with
the United States by investing in technology manufacturing facilities located
within the United States and agreeing to lift restrictions on the importation
of certain United States agricultural products;
Whereas
Taiwan has demonstrated a commitment to protecting intellectual property and
individual freedom by serving as a leader in the responsible development of
technology, as evidenced through a Joint Declaration on 5G Security announced
between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in August 2020;
Whereas
Taiwan has played an integral role in the global supply chain during the
coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as “COVID–19”) pandemic, producing
mass amounts of masks at the time when masks were most scarce and ensuring that
this critical tool was available to individuals around the world;
Whereas
the United States has consistently supported peaceful relations between Taiwan
and the People’s Republic of China, and respected the provisions of both the
Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assurances offered by
President Ronald Reagan to Taiwan in 1982;
Whereas
the People’s Republic of China has shown a hostility to Taiwan, aggressively
asserting its military power, using coercive economic measures to keep Taiwan
economically dependent on the People’s Republic of China, and seeking to
isolate Taiwan from the rest of the world;
Whereas
the policy of the United States is to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific
region, and achieving that vision must include working with like-minded
countries in the region to liberalize trade;
Whereas
the United States is currently Taiwan’s 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan
is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States in goods and 11th
largest trading partner overall;
Whereas
Taiwan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2002;
Whereas
bilateral trade in goods between Taiwan and the United States increased from
$62,000,000,000 in 2010 to $86,000,000,000 in 2019, according to the United
States Census Bureau;
Whereas
Taiwan’s foreign direct investment stock in the United States was
$11,100,000,000 as of 2019;
Whereas
trade with Taiwan supports an estimated 208,000 United States jobs according to
estimates of the United States Department of Commerce as of 2015;
Whereas
closer engagement with Taiwan through trade negotiations would encourage even
greater access to Taiwan’s market and would benefit both security and economic
growth for the United States, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region;
Whereas
it is essential that a free trade agreement negotiated between the United
States and Taiwan lower tariff and nontariff barriers to trade, including
meaningfully expanded access to agricultural markets and ensuring that
science-based standards govern international trade in animals and animal
products;
Whereas
the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015
(19 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) enables the President to negotiate reciprocal
reductions of nontariff barriers while preserving the authority of Congress
over foreign trade as required by section 8 of article I of the Constitution of
the United States;
Whereas
the procedures laid out in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act of 2015 were designed by Congress to maintain the
sovereignty of Congress over trade; and
Whereas,
for legislation implementing a trade agreement to qualify for trade authorities
procedures under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act of 2015, the trade agreement is required to make progress
toward achieving the applicable objectives, policies, and priorities set forth
by Congress in that Act, and failure by the administration of a President to
adhere to the trade negotiating objectives and notification and consultation
requirements established by Congress renders a trade agreement ineligible for
fast-track consideration: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That it is the sense of the Senate that the United States should initiate
negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with Taiwan.
