; Whereas the United States welcomed efforts by Taiwan authorities to follow through on commitments related to intellectual property rights made in 2015 under the TIFA; Whereas Taiwan plays a central role in the global electronics industry, producing more than 90 percent of the world’s motherboards and notebook computers, and is the largest consumer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and has the largest semiconductor foundry manufacturing economy; Whereas people-to-people relations between the United States and Taiwan continue to grow, with travel for business and pleasure to the United States from Taiwan increasing 50 percent since Taiwan’s designation for participation in the United States visa waiver program in October 2012; Whereas Taiwan currently has the seventh-highest number of citizens who are studying in the United States; Whereas in 2015, the United States and Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, which seeks to expand already robust cooperation to address global challenges in third countries, in areas such as international humanitarian assistance, public health, environmental protection, energy, technology, education, and regional development; Whereas Taiwan, as a democracy and free market economy, shares the United States principles and values, providing a strong foundation for open, fair, and mutually beneficial trade relations; and Whereas a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan would indicate that Taiwan has committed itself to maintaining high standards in international trade, which would signify that Taiwan is a sound economic partner and is eager to deepen engagement in the global economy: Now, therefore, be it