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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 56 Introduced in House (IH)]

105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 56

    Favoring strong support by the United States Government for the 
   accession of Taiwan to the World Trade Organization prior to the 
   admission of the People's Republic of China to that Organization.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 1997

 Mr. Rohrabacher (for himself, Mr. Solomon, Mr. Cox of California, Mr. 
    Royce, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Hinchey, and Mr. Lantos) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
    Favoring strong support by the United States Government for the 
   accession of Taiwan to the World Trade Organization prior to the 
   admission of the People's Republic of China to that Organization.

Whereas the people of the United States and the people of the Republic of China 
        on Taiwan have long enjoyed extensive ties;
Whereas Taiwan is currently the 8th largest trading partner of the United 
        States, and exports from the United States to Taiwan total more than 
        $18,000,000,000 annually, nearly twice as much as United States exports 
        to the People's Republic of China;
Whereas the executive branch has committed publicly to support Taiwan's bid to 
        join the World Trade Organization and has declared that the United 
        States will not oppose this bid solely on the grounds that the People's 
        Republic of China, which also seeks membership in the World Trade 
        Organization, is not yet eligible because of its unacceptable trade 
        practices;
Whereas the United States and Taiwan have concluded discussions on a variety of 
        outstanding trade issues that remain unresolved with the People's 
        Republic of China and that are necessary for the United States to 
        support Taiwan's membership in the World Trade Organization;
Whereas the reversion of control over Hong Kong--a member of the World Trade 
        Organization--to the People's Republic of China, scheduled by treaty to 
        occur on July 1, 1997, will, in many respects, afford to the People's 
        Republic of China the practical benefit of membership in the World Trade 
        Organization for the substantial portion of its trade in goods--despite 
        the fact that the trade practices of the People's Republic of China 
        currently fall far short of qualifying for membership in the World Trade 
        Organization;
Whereas, while the executive branch has announced its interest in the admission 
        of the People's Republic of China to the World Trade Organization, the 
        fundamental sense of fairness of the people of the United States 
        warrants the United States Government's support for Taiwan's relatively 
        more meritorious application for membership in the World Trade 
        Organization;
Whereas the World Trade Organization specifically provides that membership in 
        the World Trade Organization does not confer statehood status, but 
        rather membership can also be extended for a regional economy as will be 
        the case for Hong Kong after July 1, 1997; and
Whereas it is in the economic interests of United States consumers and exporters 
        for Taiwan to complete the requirements for accession to the World Trade 
        Organization at the earliest possible moment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress favors public support by the United States Government 
for the accession of Taiwan to the World Trade Organization prior to 
the admission of the People's Republic of China to that Organization.
                                 <all>
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