H.R. No. 186       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The longstanding bonds of friendship between the   United States and Taiwan, embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of   1979, continue to yield important economic, strategic, and cultural   benefits; and          WHEREAS, Taiwan ranks as the United States' 10th largest   trading partner, and in 2019, bilateral trade in goods reached   $85.5 billion; the seventh-largest export market for   U.S. agricultural products, Taiwan's biennial agricultural trade   goodwill missions result in multibillion-dollar supply deals, and   its annually dispatched delegations to the SelectUSA Investment   Summit boost investment; Taiwan's recent action to lift   restrictions on U.S. beef and pork beginning in January 2021 will   help enhance bilateral trade; and          WHEREAS, The robust US-Taiwan trade and investment   partnership provides a solid foundation for a mutually beneficial   bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to spur job creation, further   expand the global market, and secure international supply chains;   Taiwan is well positioned to play an important role in augmenting   the revitalization of the global supply chain as part of the   post-pandemic economic recovery; and          WHEREAS, Taiwan is committed to helping address global   challenges, from humanitarian crises to nontraditional security   threats; moreover, this year it has emerged as an important partner   in pandemic prevention, providing 54 million surgical masks and   other PPE to more than 80 countries around the world, including   nearly 1 million surgical masks from the Taiwan government and   Taiwan affiliated private groups to the State and cities of Texas;   the Taiwan Model has achieved world renown for its effective   pandemic prevention and containment, bolstering unprecedented   international support for Taiwan's bid to participate in the World   Health Assembly (WHA); and          WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups   partner with the United States on a range of issues to promote our   common values of freedom, democracy, and human rights; in March,   Taiwan joined with the United States to establish the Partnership   against Coronavirus, building on the cooperative tradition of prior   joint partnerships such as the Global Cooperation and Training   Framework (GCTF), which advances Taiwanese leadership in such   arenas as democratization, human rights, women's empowerment, and   public health; and          WHEREAS, Since 1988, Texas and Taiwan have maintained a   sister-state relationship, and they enjoy particularly close   economic ties; Taiwanese firms have invested billions of dollars in   a wide range of Texas businesses; Taiwan is Texas' 10th largest   foreign market, and in 2019, it imported nearly $8.47 billion in   commodities from Texas, including computers and electronics,   industrial machinery equipment, chemicals, and foodstuffs; in   turn, Texas imported over $3.66 billion in Taiwanese goods,   primarily computers, electronics, metal products, transportation   equipment, and industrial machinery; and          WHEREAS, The establishment of a Texas Trade and Investment   Office in Taiwan could enhance the participation of small- and   medium-sized enterprises in trade and investment, and advance the   sister-state tie between Texas and Taiwan; and          WHEREAS, Texas and the United States have benefited   immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan,   and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan   works to enhance its presence in the international community; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas   Legislature hereby express its support for the strengthening of our   partnership with Taiwan and for the expansion of Taiwan's role on   the global stage; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives hereby:          (a)  express support for a bilateral trade agreement between   the United States and Taiwan;          (b)  express support for Taiwan's meaningful participation   in the International Criminal Police Organization, the   International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations   Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the World Health   Assembly;          (c)  express support for a Texas Trade and Investment Office   in Taiwan; and          (d)  celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the enactment of the   Taiwan Relations Act and the 33rd anniversary of the sister-state   relationship between the State of Texas and Taiwan; and, be it   further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston as   an expression of the sentiment of the Texas House of   Representatives.     Sherman, Sr.   Button   Vo   Jetton   Allen     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 186 was adopted by the House on May   14, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 127, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House