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House panel hears resolution recognizing Montana–Taiwan trade ties
Summary
The House Business and Labor Committee heard House Joint Resolution 29, a bipartisan resolution recognizing Montana’s trade relationship with Taiwan; informational witnesses described recent trade figures and the resolution drew no public opposition.
Representative Brandon Lear, sponsor of House Joint Resolution 29, told the House Business and Labor Committee the measure “recognizes the strong relations we have between Montana and Taiwan.” Lear said Taiwan is one of Montana’s largest trading partners for agriculture and other goods and urged the committee to pass the bipartisan resolution.
Director Sara Rambo, who identified herself as representing the Montana Taiwan trade office, told the committee Taiwan was Montana’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2024. “It was $999,300,000 in the calendar year 2024,” Rambo said, and she provided a commodity breakdown including industrial machinery ($32 million), wheat ($28 million), inorganic chemicals ($13.9 million) and beef ($13.7 million).
No proponents or opponents raised additional testimony in committee and no formal action was recorded during the hearing. Director Rambo said she was “happy to answer any questions,” and the committee closed the hearing after brief discussion.
The resolution as presented is symbolic: it recognizes commercial ties and expresses legislative support. The committee did not take a recorded vote during the hearing; committee members indicated they would consider the measure in executive action.
Representatives and staff noted the resolution’s purpose was to highlight trade connections rather than create new policy or funding commitments. The hearing record contains the sponsor’s statement, the trade-office statistics presented by Director Rambo, and no submitted opposition.
