BILL REQ. #:  H-0829.1 

Read first time .   Referred to .

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Both Washington and Taiwan share close economic and commercial connections; and
     WHEREAS, Washington's main industries include aerospace, information technology sector, agriculture, and services with Taiwan as an essential market for Washington's products and services; and
     WHEREAS, Leading exports to Taiwan included transportation equipment, information technology products, machinery, plastics, food, and agricultural products; and
     WHEREAS, International trade is crucial to Washington's economic development with foreign trade creating 50% of the jobs in this state over the past 30 years and there is still much room for further growth; and
     WHEREAS, In 2005, Taiwan was Washington's 4th largest export market with exports to Taiwan valued at $3.12 billion; and
     WHEREAS, Statistics show that Washington's exports to Taiwan have been gradually increasing in recent years with companies from Washington, such as Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, and Starbucks having invested in Taiwan, while Taiwan's TSMC having also invested in Washington; and
     WHEREAS, Based on the close economic ties, if the Taiwan-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (TUFTA) is signed, tariff reductions and greater trade facilitation will provide the state with significantly improved opportunities for increasing exports to Taiwan and developing industries in Washington; and
     WHEREAS, Products from Washington's leading industries are in high demand in Taiwan and this demand will only intensify under TUFTA, as tariff rates on most agricultural and industrial products would drop to zero immediately; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan enjoys an advantageous geographic position in East Asia and Taiwanese businessmen have valuable experiences and market channels in the great China market; and
     WHEREAS, In addition, incentives and advantages from the TUFTA would help companies in Washington use Taiwan as a springboard for penetrating other Asian markets; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan has been pushing for the signing of TUFTA in the hope of strengthening economic ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, including expanding business opportunities for Washington; and
     WHEREAS, As of August 2006, the TUFTA proposal has been endorsed by 28 states, the Council of State Governments, and other pertinent organizations;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully urge that the President of the United States and Congress work together to enact the Taiwan-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (TUFTA) at the earliest date possible.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.