ENDORSING TAIWAN'S INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION, ENCOURAGING THE SIGNING OF A UNITED STATES-TAIWAN AGREEMENT ON AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION, AND COMMEMORATING THE SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND TAIWAN.

HR21

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

21

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

endorsing TAIWAN'S international participation, encouraging
the signing of a united states-TAIWAN agreement on avoidance of double
taxation, and commemorating the sister-state relationship BETWEEN the state of
hawaii and taiwan
.

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WHEREAS, the
United States and Taiwan are bonded by a shared commitment to democracy,
freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and a free market economy; and

����
WHEREAS, to
further support and reinforce trading partnerships, the United States-Taiwan
Initiative on 21st Century Trade has reached an agreement to develop concrete
methods to deepen the economic and trade relationship of both sides, advance
mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovative and
inclusive economic growth for workers and businesses; and

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WHEREAS, in
order to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, the government of Taiwan
has expressed its desire to sign an agreement on avoidance of double taxation
with the United States; and

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WHEREAS, Hawaii
and Taiwan have had a sister-state relationship since 1993 that has developed
an enduring and mutually beneficial friendship, exemplified by the Taiwan
government's generous $500,000 contribution to Hawaii in the aftermath of the
2023 Maui wildfires; and

����
WHEREAS, in
addition to the strong reciprocal trading partnership, the State of Hawaii
Office in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu have been
working together to promote substantial cooperation and exchanges in areas of
tourism, agriculture, culture, education, and sport; and

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WHEREAS, the
United States-Taiwan Education Initiative was launched in 2020 to strengthen
cooperation on international education and highlight Taiwan's role in providing
Mandarin language instruction; and

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WHEREAS, given
the designation of Mandarin as a critical language and Taiwan's plans to be
bilingual by 2030, schools and institutions of higher education in Hawaii and
Taiwan have enhanced their exchanges; and

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WHEREAS, for
years, Taiwan has actively engaged in climate change research, promoted
disaster management exchange, supported anti-terrorism cooperation, and worked
with its partners to tackle transnational crime; and

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WHEREAS, Taiwan's
meaningful participation in bodies such as the International Criminal Police
Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and
International Civil Aviation Organization would make international mechanisms
truly global; and

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WHEREAS, the
United States has assisted Taiwan in participating in the International Civil
Aviation Organization and International Criminal Police Organization and will
continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in these and other
international organizations; now, therefore,

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BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that this body joins the United
States to endorse the participation of Taiwan as an observer in the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Civil Aviation
Organization, and International Criminal Police Organization; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that this body encourages the United States Trade Representative to
commence negotiations to enter into an agreement on avoidance of double
taxation with Taiwan; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that this body commemorates the State of Hawaii's thirty-third
anniversary of sister-state relations with Taiwan and supports mutually
beneficial exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan; and

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President
of the Republic of China; President of the United States; President Pro Tempore
of the United States Senate; Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives; United States Secretary of State; members of Hawaii's
Congressional delegation; Governor; and Director of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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United
States-Taiwan; International Participation; Trade Agreement; Sister-state
Relationship