Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1312
Sponsors: EDMONDS

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Glenn Cummings, Speaker 
Millicent M. MacFarland, Clerk 
http://janus.state.me.us/house/hcalfr.htm  
Printed on recycled paper 
33rd Legislative Day 
Thursday, April 26, 2007 
Calling of the House to Order by the Speaker. 
Prayer by Pastor Richard Bell, Full Gospel Assembly of Mars Hill. 
Pledge of Allegiance. 
Reading of the Journal of yesterday. 
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HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Thursday, April 26, 2007 
ORDERS 
(4-1)  On motion of Speaker CUMMINGS of Portland, the following Joint Resolution:  
(H.P. 1312) (Cosponsored by President EDMONDS of Cumberland) 
JOINT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A TAIWAN AND UNITED STATES FREE 
TRADE AGREEMENT 
WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States share an important economic and strategic 
international relationship; and 
WHEREAS, a Taiwan and United States Free Trade Agreement, or TUFTA, advances 
the national interests of both Taiwan and the United States; and 
WHEREAS, both countries are members of the World Trade Organization, or WTO, and 
TUFTA would expand on the principles advanced by WTO and the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation; and 
WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States share and promote a mutual belief in freedom, 
democracy and antiterrorism and market principles; and 
WHEREAS, the level of mutual investment between Taiwan and the United States is 
quite high, whereby Taiwan is the 8th-largest trading partner of the United States, and in 2005 
United States exports to Taiwan totaled $22,000,000,000; and 
WHEREAS, United States exports to Taiwan under TUFTA would expand by an 
estimated $3,400,000,000; and 
WHEREAS, more investment between the United States and Taiwan would create new 
business and employment opportunities and would foster closer ties between firms in both 
countries; and 
WHEREAS, streamlined foreign investment procedures developed under TUFTA would 
lead to further investment by firms in both Taiwan and the United States; and 
WHEREAS, TUFTA would stimulate joint development of advanced technology and 
new high-technology applications and promote new cooperative ventures; and 
WHEREAS, a 2002 study by the United States International Trade Commission supports 
the negotiation of a Taiwan and United States Free Trade Agreement; and 
HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Thursday, April 26, 2007 
WHEREAS, TUFTA would build on the existing strong relations between Taiwan and 
the United States to simultaneously boost Taiwan's security and democracy and serve the broader 
interests of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region; now, therefore, be it 
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature 
now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this 
opportunity to express our unequivocal support for the negotiation of a Taiwan and United States 
Free Trade Agreement; and be it further 
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary 
of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, United 
States Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, the Maine Congressional Delegation, President 
of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian on behalf of the 23,000,000 citizens of Taiwan and 
Director-General K. T. Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, 
Massachusetts. 
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