| FAPA's Congressional Staff Briefing on ECFA and FTA today |
|
|
|
| 2010/04/28, Wednesday | |||||
|
Dear all: Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Remarks on “Moving Forward with a U.S.-Taiwan Free and Fair Trade Agreement” Rayburn HOB Room B354 Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 12:00 noon
Members of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, Friends of Taiwan, Supporters of Fair and Free Trade, Members of the Taiwanese American Community: While American trade interests in Asia stagnate, the Chinese dragon is extending its claws ever further out into the Pacific. The China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement went into effect at the beginning of the year. While the White House and Democratic Leadership in Congress allow the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement to languish without formal Congressional action, Beijing sings its siren song to seduce Seoul and Tokyo into joining a China-centered trade agreement. In June, the perhaps inaccurately named Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and Mainland China is set to be signed, despite concerns over growing Chinese economic influence on the island. Like the Trojan horse which allowed the Greek invaders to penetrate the inner walls of Troy, the ECFA may prove to be one gift horse that the people of Taiwan would rather not look in the mouth. The ECFA may well prove to be a political tool that masquerades as a trade instrument to achieve China's ultimate goal of absorbing Taiwan. Strategic, political and cultural influences are all closely tied to economics.
Washington cannot cede supremacy in economic influence over the Pacific to Beijing. A U.S.-Taiwan FTA will boost U.S. exports to Taiwan, expand the U.S. market share in Asia, and strengthen bilateral ties. Taiwan, currently the 10th largest trading partner of the U.S. and 6th largest destination of U.S. agriculture products, is a desirable market for U.S. goods and services. Studies by the U.S. International Trade Commission show that U.S. exports to Taiwan would grow at a rate of approximately 16% per year if a US-Taiwan FTA were enacted. Taiwan, a democracy that supports a free market, the rule of law and human rights, provides a transparent, free and stable environment for U.S. investment and business opportunities in Asia. It is a sad fact that most countries refrain from an FTA with Taiwan out of fear of China's reprisals. The Taiwanese workforce and economy are increasingly left out and negatively impacted due to this isolation.
A U.S.-Taiwan FTA, however, will help Taiwan break out of its international isolation. A U.S.-Taiwan FTA can also help halt China's growing economic and political leverage over Taiwan and give Taiwan more confidence in negotiations with China. Now is the time for the Administration to begin moving forward in pursuing at FTA with our good friend, Taiwan. Thank you.
April 28, 2010 Dear Friends, This morning in Washington D.C, I, along with fellow Members of Congress, participated in an event for the purpose of moving forward with a U.S.-Taiwan Free and Fair Trade Agreement. As you know, I have consistently been an advocate for a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Taiwan. A U.S.-Taiwan FTA will boost U.S. exports to Taiwan, expand U.S. market share in Asia, and strengthen bilateral ties. During the 110TH Congress, I was one of 42 co-sponsors of H.Con.Res. 137. This resolution expressed “the sense of Congress relating to a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan.” I have also supported H. Res. 18. This piece of legislation seeks to normalize the United States diplomatic relations with Taiwan and encourages the President to abandon the “One China Policy” in favor of a “One China, One Taiwan Policy” that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign government. A U.S.-Taiwan FTA will help arrest China’s growing economic and political leverage over Taiwan and it will give Taiwan more confidence in negotiations with China both economically and politically. In closing, I am continually amazed by the rapid economic growth Taiwan has experienced. In many ways, our economic prosperity depends much on a mutually beneficial trade relationship between our two nations. It is my hope that in working with fellow members of Congress an FTA between our two nations will become a reality. Sincerely,
Scott Garrett Member of Congress
|
|||||
| 最後更新 ( 2010/08/17, Tuesday ) | |||||
| 下一個 > |
|---|