SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 17

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Carlos R. Cisneros and Richard C. Martinez and

William P. Soules

A JOINT MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN NEW MEXICO AND TAIWAN; SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES AND TAIWAN BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT AND TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

     WHEREAS, the trade in goods and services between the United States and the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan, totaled an estimated eighty-six billion two hundred million dollars ($86,200,000,000) in 2017, with thirty-five billion six hundred million dollars ($35,600,000,000) in exports and fifty billion five hundred million dollars ($50,500,000,000) in imports, ranking Taiwan as the eleventh-largest trading partner of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, overall, Taiwan supports more than three hundred thirty thousand jobs in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan was New Mexico's twenty-eighth-largest export market in 2017, with a total of eight million sixty thousand dollars ($8,060,000) in exports; and

     WHEREAS, the bilateral trade between New Mexico and Taiwan has reached one hundred forty-seven million two hundred thousand dollars ($147,200,000); and

     WHEREAS, in total, more than one thousand two hundred jobs in New Mexico are supported by Taiwan-affiliated companies and the exports of goods and services to Taiwan; and

     WHEREAS, strengthening investment ties between New Mexico and Taiwan can be mutually beneficial because New Mexico is rich in oil and gas and over ninety-five percent of Taiwan's energy is imported from abroad; and

     WHEREAS, the signing of a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan would foster a more open and fair trade environment, thereby creating greater export and investment opportunities between markets; and

     WHEREAS, negotiating a bilateral trade agreement would be a win-win strategy that would not only stimulate mutual economic growth but would also significantly increase jobs in both countries; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and Taiwan established sister-state relations in 1985, resulting in various mutual agreements, including New Mexico's and Taiwan's signing of both a mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses without written or road tests and a memorandum of understanding on higher education in 2018; and

     WHEREAS, in an effort to reinforce the economic, cultural and tourist relations between New Mexico and Taiwan, the executive branch of New Mexico's government is encouraged to sign an agreement or memorandum of understanding on energy and trade with Taiwan in 2019; 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, the United States supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations such as the world health organization, the international civil aviation organization, the United Nations framework convention on climate change and the international criminal police organization; and

     WHEREAS, joint memorials in support of Taiwan's international participation have been introduced in the New Mexico legislature in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Taiwan Travel Act became law in March 2018 and was supported by the American legislative exchange council in August 2018; and

     WHEREAS, increasing interactions between high-ranking public elected officials and lawmakers from New Mexico and Taiwan would strengthen ties between the two sides; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is encouraged to lead a trade delegation to Taiwan in 2019 to advance bilateral trade and investment opportunities between New Mexico and Taiwan;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it support the negotiation of a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan, Taiwan's participation in international organizations, the signing of an agreement on energy and trade with Taiwan and a visit by Governor Lujan Grisham to Taiwan in 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States, members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, the United States secretary of state and the United States trade representative.

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