IV
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 Organi-
zation 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 ex-
tensive 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;
•HCON 56 IH
Whereas the executive branch has committed publicly to sup-
port 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 un-
acceptable trade practices;
Whereas the United States and Taiwan have concluded dis-
cussions on a variety of outstanding trade issues that re-
main unresolved with the People’s Republic of China and
that are necessary for the United States to support Tai-
wan’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 Re-
public of China, scheduled by treaty to occur on July 1,
1997, will, in many respects, afford to the People’s Re-
public 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 inter-
est 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 rel-
atively 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
•HCON 56 IH
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 con-
sumers and exporters for Taiwan to complete the require-
ments 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.
Æ