Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1317
Sponsors: LANGLEY, HILL, KATZ

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Tuesday, March 27, 2018
(4-2)  On motion of Speaker GIDEON of Freeport, the following Joint Resolution:  (H.P. 
1317) (Cosponsored by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock and Senators: HILL of York, KATZ of 
Kennebec) 
JOINT RESOLUTION TO REAFFIRM FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MAINE AND 
TAIWAN, TO ENHANCE BILATERAL RELATIONS AND TO SUPPORT TAIWAN IN 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan, the Republic of China, share a most 
important relationship, marked by a mutually beneficial partnership and supported by our 
common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and a free market economy; and 
WHEREAS, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic 
principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23,000,000 people, promote Taiwan's 
international standing, further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan and 
maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region; and 
WHEREAS, the United States, and in particular the State of Maine, and Taiwan share a 
historically close relationship marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural 
exchange, scientific and technological interests and tourism; and 
WHEREAS, the United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd-largest trading partner and Taiwan 
ranked as the 10th-largest trading partner of the United States in 2017, with bilateral trade in 
goods and services from January to November 2017 between the United States and Taiwan 
amounting to approximately $62,400,000,000, and that trade has created or supported at least 
322,728 United States jobs, according to the United States Department of Commerce; and 
WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1,000,000,000 in goods to Taiwan, of 
which Maine exported $95,800,000 in goods, mostly computer and electronic products, 
machinery, fish and marine products and paper, making Taiwan Maine's 5th-largest export 
market in Asia in 2016, and Taiwan and the United States seek to increase trade and investment 
through bilateral agreements, which will result in greater exports from Maine to Taiwan; and 
WHEREAS, Taiwan has established reciprocal driver's license agreements with 25 states 
across the United States, including Massachusetts, thereby facilitating and streamlining the 
license conversion process and providing citizens of Taiwan and the various states with the ease 
and convenience of being able to drive within Taiwan and the respective jurisdictions; and 
WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 18th-largest global market and its inclusion in international 
organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Criminal Police 
Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization is in the best interest and 
important to the safety of the international community, as Taiwan is a key transport hub for 
international air travel and a large flight path in the Asia-Pacific region remains under Taiwan's 
jurisdiction, and Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
Change is necessary in the global effort to combat climate change; now, therefore, be it 
HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Tuesday, March 27, 2018
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Legislature 
now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, reaffirm the 
friendship between Maine and Taiwan, the Republic of China, and we continue to support efforts 
to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Maine-Taiwan trade and investment relations and 
support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements, including the 
World Health Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, the International 
Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; 
and be it further 
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary 
of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, the 
members of the Maine Congressional Delegation, Governor Paul LePage, President Tsai Ing-
wen of Taiwan and Scott Lai, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in 
Boston. 
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