Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act
- Bill Number
- S. 733
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25T12:03:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act aims to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Taiwan's authorities in the areas of travel and tourism. It seeks to boost mutual economic benefits, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote safer, more efficient travel while aligning with existing U.S. policies toward Taiwan.
Key Provisions
- Tourism Cooperation (Section 3):
- Within 90 days of enactment, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism (in coordination with the Secretaries of Commerce and State) must engage Taiwan's authorities to expand travel and tourism partnerships.
- Efforts include:
- Increasing travel between the U.S. and Taiwan.
- Supporting tourism industries through events, coordination with sectors like hotels, restaurants, retail, air and sea transport, cultural preservation, and visitor safety.
- All activities must protect U.S. sensitive information, intellectual property (creative works and inventions), trade secrets (confidential business info), and economic interests, while complying with the Taiwan Relations Act (a 1979 law guiding U.S.-Taiwan ties) and export rules.
- A joint report from the three secretaries must be submitted to specified congressional committees within 270 days of enactment, and annually for five years, covering:
- Details of cooperation activities.
- Challenges or resource needs.
- Other relevant issues.
- Preclearance Facilities Report (Section 4):
- Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security (consulting with the Secretaries of Commerce and State) must submit a report to congressional committees analyzing:
- Feasibility and benefits of establishing U.S. preclearance facilities (customs and immigration checks done abroad before travel to the U.S.) in Taiwan.
- A plan for such facilities in Taiwan or other Indo-Pacific locations.
- Impacts on trade (including supply chains), U.S. tourism revenue and commerce, business travel, cost savings, government collaboration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing, and U.S. foreign policy goals for U.S.-Taiwan relations.
- Security benefits and potential vulnerabilities of preclearance in Taiwan.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandates for proactive engagement and reporting on U.S.-Taiwan tourism cooperation, building on but not directly amending the Taiwan Relations Act. It does not alter core U.S. laws on immigration, trade, or foreign relations but adds specific timelines and requirements for interagency coordination, potentially filling gaps in tourism-focused diplomacy.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security through engagement efforts, report preparation, and potential preclearance planning; may require additional resources for coordination and security measures.
- Citizens and Businesses: Could ease travel for U.S. and Taiwanese people, boosting tourism revenue, job opportunities in hospitality and transport sectors, and cultural exchanges; preclearance might reduce wait times at U.S. entry points but could raise implementation costs.
- International Relations: Strengthens unofficial U.S.-Taiwan ties in non-sensitive areas like tourism, potentially enhancing economic interdependence without escalating geopolitical tensions; supports broader U.S. goals in the Indo-Pacific region for commercial and cultural relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security; congressional committees on foreign relations, commerce, homeland security, and energy.
- Taiwan Authorities: Officials responsible for tourism, travel, and international cooperation.
- Private Sector: U.S. and Taiwanese tourism industries, including hotels, airlines, retailers, cultural sites, and travel agencies.
- Citizens and Travelers: U.S. and Taiwanese individuals benefiting from increased travel opportunities and safety measures.
- Broader Community: Indo-Pacific regional partners potentially involved in expanded preclearance operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with the Taiwan Relations Act, avoiding formal diplomatic recognition of Taiwan while promoting practical cooperation; emphasizes protection of U.S. economic and security interests, aligning with export control laws.
- Constitutional: Involves standard congressional oversight of executive foreign policy actions through reporting requirements, upholding separation of powers without raising treaty-level issues.
- Political: Signals bipartisan U.S. support (introduced by Senators from both parties) for deepening non-military ties with Taiwan, which could influence U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific amid regional dynamics, though it remains focused on apolitical tourism and trade enhancement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2025-02-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act — issued 2025-02-25 — PDF (7 pages)