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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This resolution of the House of Representatives addresses trade relations with the State
10 of Israel.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 ▸ opposes boycott, divestment, or sanctions movements in any form against the State
14 of Israel;
15 ▸ encourages promoting and strengthening trade relations between the business
16 communities of Utah and Israel; and
17 ▸ encourages activities related to trade with Israel.
18 Special Clauses:
19 None
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21 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
22 WHEREAS, the State of Israel is the most prominent target of nationally discriminatory
23 boycott activity, which began even before Israel's declaration of independence as the
24 reestablished national state of the Jewish people, with the Arab League Boycott adopted in
25 1945;
26 WHEREAS, companies that refuse to deal with U.S. trade partners such as Israel, and
27 do so for discriminatory reasons on the basis of national origin, impair those companies'
28 commercial soundness;
29 WHEREAS, it is the public policy of the United States, as enshrined in several federal
30 acts, to oppose boycotts against Israel, and Congress has concluded as a matter of national trade
31 policy that cooperation with Israel materially benefits U.S. companies and improves American
32 competitiveness;
33 WHEREAS, Israel is known for its dynamic and innovative approach in many business
34 sectors, and therefore a company's decision to discriminate against Israel, Israeli entities, or
35 entities that do business with or in Israel is an unsound business practice;
36 WHEREAS, the 1985 United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement was the first free
37 trade agreement entered into by the United States and continues to serve as the foundation for
38 expanding trade and investment between the United States and Israel by reducing barriers and
39 promoting regulatory transparency;
40 WHEREAS, since signing the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement, U.S.-Israel
41 trade has grown eight-fold and nearly all trade tariffs have been removed, resulting in U.S.
42 goods and services trade with Israel totaling $46 billion in 2013;
43 WHEREAS, Israel is an important trading partner for Utah;
44 WHEREAS, some of Utah's top exports to Israel include computer and electronic
45 products, machinery, and transportation equipment; and
46 WHEREAS, Israel is a global center for hi-tech design and research and development,
47 and could offer opportunities for collaboration between Israeli companies and Utah's Silicon
48 Slopes companies:
49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
50 state of Utah strongly opposes any form of boycott, divestment, or sanctions movements that
51 promote forms of boycott against the State of Israel.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives is dedicated to
53 promoting and strengthening trade relations between the business communities of Utah and
54 Israel.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives encourages activities
56 for the promotion of trade and export, initiating and maintaining trade agreements for the
57 improvement of Israel's, Utah's, and the United States' trade conditions, attracting and
58 encouraging foreign investments, and creating strategic cooperation with foreign companies.
59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives encourages foreign
60 investment in Utah companies and identifying Israeli companies that are open to cultivating a
61 U.S. presence.