HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 6
57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Janelle Anyanonu and Katy M. Duhigg and Yanira Gurrola
and Mark Duncan and Marianna Anaya
A JOINT MEMORIAL
SUPPORTING STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES AND BETWEEN TAIWAN AND NEW MEXICO IN TRADE, EDUCATION, EXCHANGE OF VISITS BY OFFICIALS AND TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
WHEREAS, the total two-way trade of goods between the United States and the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, was an estimated one hundred forty-five billion dollars ($145,000,000,000) in 2024, with almost forty billion dollars ($40,000,000,000) in exports, excluding military sales, and almost eighty-eight billion dollars ($88,000,000,000) in imports, ranking Taiwan as the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States in 2023; and
WHEREAS, the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade was signed June 1, 2023 and includes high-standard commitments in future negotiations of economic and trade agreements between the two countries; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's international trade administration and the economic development department signed a memorandum of understanding on trade and economic cooperation on October 5, 2021 to foster further economic engagement and establish or expand operations and supply chain cooperation between Taiwan and New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, the economic development department opened an international trade bureau office in Taipei to advance bilateral exchanges in various areas; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan was New Mexico's sixth-largest export market in 2023 with a total of sixty-two million dollars ($62,000,000) in exports from New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's Admiral cable located operations in Santa Teresa in 2018 and hired three hundred forty workers; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's Xxentria, Cymmetrik and Hota followed in 2020 and 2023, with Xxentria bringing thirty-five new jobs with likely more to come, Cymmetrik planning to hire ten employees and Hota creating three hundred fifty jobs; and
WHEREAS, on July 12, 2013, the president of the United States signed into law H.R. 1151, an act supporting Taiwan's participation as an observer in the international civil aviation organization; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2016, the president of the United States signed into law S. 2426, an act directing the United States secretary of state to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the international criminal police organization; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2020, the president of the United States signed into law S. 1678, an act stating that it should be the policy of the United States to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership in all international organizations in which statehood is not a requirement and in which the United States is also a participant and for Taiwan to be granted observer status in other appropriate international organizations; and
WHEREAS, the United States secretary of state issued a statement on October 26, 2021 encouraging all United Nations member states to join in supporting Taiwan's robust, meaningful participation throughout the United Nations system and in the international community; and
WHEREAS, joint memorials in support of Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations and United Nations specialized agencies have been introduced in the New Mexico legislature in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and
WHEREAS, in December 2020, the United States and Taiwan launched the US-Taiwan Education Initiative, which aims to expand opportunities for American students to learn Mandarin from Taiwanese teachers, as well as opportunities for teachers in the United States to help Taiwan reach its goal to become a bilingual society by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico legislators acknowledge the achievements made by New Mexico and Taiwan since the establishment of their sister state relations on August 14, 1985 in the fields of economy, trade, technology, education and culture and encourage the continued bilateral educational cooperation between the two sides in the future; and
WHEREAS, after Governor Lujan Grisham's visit to Taiwan in 2023, New Mexico's elected officials, including legislators, are encouraged to lead delegations to Taiwan to advance bilateral trade and investment opportunities between New Mexico and Taiwan and tourism, cultural and cultural exchange opportunities between New Mexico and Taiwan in the future;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislature support strengthening relations between the United States and Taiwan and New Mexico and Taiwan in trade, the exchange of visits by officials and support of organizations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature support additional negotiations and agreements under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade Implementation Act, advocate for Taiwan's inclusion in the Indo-Pacific economic framework for prosperity, pursue efforts to establish an agreement on double taxation avoidance, advance negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement and affirm strong support for Taiwan's participation in the comprehensive and progressive agreement for a trans-Pacific partnership; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations system, including the world health organization, the world health assembly, the international civil aviation organization and the United Nations climate change conference, and support Taiwan's inclusion in the international criminal police organization; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature support the US-Taiwan Education Initiative and encourage cooperation between New Mexico and Taiwan in K-12 education and university education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor of New Mexico and the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.
- 5 -