Monday, February 21st 2022, 10:31 pm
A bill circulating through the Oklahoma Capitol would create a trade office in Taipei, the largest city on the island of Taiwan.
House Bill 3166 is sponsored by Republican lawmakers Rep. Judd Strom and Sen. Roland Pederson.
The bill would establish the office to “promote Oklahoma business and establishing business-to-business trading activity within the southeast Asia region,” according to a bill amendment written by Rep. Logan Phillips, the original author of the bill.
The countries of interest included in the bill are Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
“We have 40 years where we've been sending and receiving delegations between Taiwan and Oklahoma,” said Rep. Logan Phillips, a Republican from Mounds and author of the bill.
Taiwan became Oklahoma’s first “sister state” in 1980, according to the state department of commerce, after Gov. George Nigh signed an agreement with the island country. Taipei is also a “sister-city” with Oklahoma City.
The trade office will cost the state an estimated $250,000 annually.
Phillips said Taiwan’s technology manufacturing is valuable to Oklahoma.
“We know that they manufacturer almost 90% of the world's microprocessors,” he said, adding that agricultural products are important for island countries.
“Their countries are islands with very small agricultural sectors and massive populations. So we have an opportunity to export our main product, which is (agriculture).”
The Finance Subcommittee on Revenue and Taxation advanced the bill unanimously on Monday evening. Its next stop is the Appropriations and Budget committee, followed by a vote by the full House of Representatives.
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