The Florida Senate has passed a resolution urging the US government to include Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity and to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the nation.
The resolution, passed on Tuesday, was proposed by Florida Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez last month to “express appreciation for the sister state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan,” the resolution says.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami thanked the Florida Senate for its support and said that it hopes the two sides can continue to boost exchanges and deepen relations.
Photo: AP
The resolution highlighted that Taiwan, which established a sister-state relationship with Florida in 1992, was the US’ 10th-largest trade partner as of October last year.
From 2019 to 2021, Taiwan was Florida’s eighth-largest export market and its fifth-largest Asian import source market in Asia, it says.
As “the economic bonds between the United States and Taiwan continue to flourish,” the resolution voices support for Taiwan to join the Indo-Pacific framework and a US-Taiwan bilateral trade agreement, which “would serve as the foundation for deepening the already significant trade relationship between reliable and like-minded partners.”
The resolution acknowledges that Taiwan participates in, observes in and cooperates with more than 50 international organizations, including being a member of APEC and the WTO.
Taiwan is bidding for observer status in the International Criminal Police Organization and is involved in the WHO’s World Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it says.
The resolution also thanks Taiwan for donating 420,000 medical masks to the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as donating US$300,000 for rescue, recovery and restoration efforts after Hurricane Ian struck the state last year.
The efforts showed “Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international partners in need,” it says.
Rodriguez proposed similar resolutions in the two previous years, following a tradition in the Florida Senate since 2012 for passing Taiwan-friendly resolutions.
Although the resolution does not have the effect of law, it is “a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate,” it says.
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