United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 33, the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act.

This bill would be the first step in establishing an informal tax treaty with our ally Taiwan. Currently, Taiwan is our largest trading partner without a tax treaty. Through fair and reciprocal tax treatment, H.R. 33 would deepen our economic relationship with Taiwan, specifically our semiconductor and chip manufacturing industries, and secure strategic supply chains.

America should not have to rely on foreign adversaries like China for our supply chains when we can partner with better allies like Taiwan. If we have learned anything from the pandemic, it is that we cannot rely on people who do not feel the same as we do to supply us with needed products.

As conflicts continue to rise across the globe, we must build our relationships with strong democracies like Taiwan. In recent years, we have watched China strengthen trade ties with nations across the globe, including American adversaries Iran and North Korea. China is also expanding its influence throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary stated very clearly back at the turn of the century what could happen from the 1800s going to the 2000s. When you look at what is happening now, Mr. Speaker, China is now at both ends of our Panama Canal. As you follow that 51 miles of the Panama Canal, China is on both sides of the canal. They are saying that, no, we don't understand and that this is just for trade. Mr. Speaker, this can quickly be converted into something else.

As President Trump and I recently noted, the Panama Canal is a vital trade global route that includes 40 percent of all U.S. container shipping. At some point, America must wake up to what is happening. We cannot rely on an adversary to supply us with needed goods, and then they make the decision of what they will send us and what they will not send us.

Our ally is Taiwan, and we need to have a stronger tie with them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for sponsoring this critical piece of legislation. All of my colleagues from Ways and Means are here to talk on the same subject, and we will continue this work. I think, as we go into the 21st day of January, we will see this incredible movement toward making America great again.

I thank, again, Chairman Smith for sponsoring this, my Ways and Means colleagues for their continuous work, and Speaker Johnson for bringing this bill to the floor. I look forward to working with the Senate and President-elect Trump to get the bill signed into law.

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