STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2903

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 27

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 27 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENTER INTO A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH TAIWAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the President of the United States to enter into a free trade agreement with Taiwan in a manner that respects the interests of all countries in the East Asian region.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Taiwan is the United States' ninth largest trading partner, eleventh largest export market, and fifth largest farm products market and in 2006, the trade flow between the United States and Taiwan totaled $61,200,000,000.  Your Committee further finds that a free trade agreement may provide more opportunities for United States companies to invest in and export to Taiwan and that consumers in the United States may also benefit from products made in Taiwan.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to correct a spelling error.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 27, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 27, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair