VOA慢速英語:跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系談判取得進展

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語經(jīng)濟報道。

Top trade officials reported progress, but no final deal after meets in Singapore earlier this month. They met to discuss details of the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The plan calls for removing non-tariff trade requirements among 12 Pacific nations.

本月早些時候，最高貿(mào)易官員在新加坡會談后通報取得了進展，但未能達成最終協(xié)議。他們開會討論了擬議的跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系(簡稱TPP)的細(xì)節(jié)問題。該方案主張取消12個太平洋國家之間的非關(guān)稅貿(mào)易壁壘(要求)。

Supporters say the TPP would make trade easier, create jobs and help the economy of those countries. But critics say some of the requirements exist to help protect individuals, workers and the environment.

支持者表示，跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系會使貿(mào)易更加容易、創(chuàng)造就業(yè)機會并幫助這些國家的經(jīng)濟。但批評人士稱，現(xiàn)有的一些要求有助于保護個體、工人和環(huán)境。

The 12 nations are responsible for about one-third of all world trade. They include Australia, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.

這十二個國家大約占到了全球貿(mào)易的三分之一。它們包括澳大利亞、智利、日本、馬來西亞、墨西哥、秘魯、新加坡、越南和美國。

Trade officials are set to restart talks in January. Negotiators are attempting to settle several disputes. The United States wants Japan to end restrictions on American-made automobiles. Some nations are arguing over intellectual property rights for films and music.

貿(mào)易官員準(zhǔn)備于明年一月重啟會談。談判代表們正試圖解決一些糾紛。美國希望日本結(jié)束對美國制造的汽車的限制。一些國家就電影和音樂的知識產(chǎn)權(quán)在爭論。

Experts say earlier trade deals cut tariffs and other payments, this made it less costly to move goods from one nation to another. Supporters say lower costs increases trade.

專家表示，早期貿(mào)易協(xié)議削減關(guān)稅和其它費用，這使得國家之間貨物流通的費用更低。支持者稱，降低成本能增加貿(mào)易。

Charles Boustany is a congressman from the American state of Louisiana. He notes that in 2011, trade exports and imports of goods and services with TPP countries supported nearly 15 million jobs in the United States. The Trans Pacific Partnership is an attempt to increase trade by making rules similar from one nation to another.

查爾斯·波斯坦尼(Charles Boustany)是來自美國路易斯安那州的一名國會議員。他指出，在2011年，同跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系國家的貨物及服務(wù)進出口貿(mào)易支撐了美國近1500萬個工作崗位?？缣窖蠡锇殛P(guān)系試圖通過在各國制定類似規(guī)則增加貿(mào)易。

Lori Wallach works with the American activist group Public Citizen. He says some government rules for importing or exporting goods are necessary. He says they protect the environment and the health of workers and people who buy imported goods.

洛瑞·瓦拉赫(Lori Wallach)就職于美國激進組織Public Citizen。他說有些對進出口貨物的政府規(guī)定是必要的。它們能夠保護環(huán)境和工人健康，以及購買進口貨物的人們。

Lori Wallach says the TPP is more about politics than trade. He says big companies have used secretive trade negotiations to get things done that Congress would not approve. He says rules that make work conditions safe or protect health are under attack if they are defined as a barrier to the international trade.

瓦拉赫表示，跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系更接近政治而不是貿(mào)易。他說，大公司都使用秘密貿(mào)易談判以達到國會不會批準(zhǔn)的目的。他說，如果確保工作環(huán)境安全或保護人類健康的規(guī)定被定義為國際貿(mào)易壁壘，它們就是受到攻擊。

Opposition from labor and consumer protection groups means the proposed deal faces an uncertain future in Washington. The agreement has to be confirmed by many national legislatures, including the U.S. Congress.

勞工和消費者保護組織的反對意味著這份擬議協(xié)議在華盛頓面臨著不可預(yù)知的未來。該協(xié)議必須得到包括美國國會在內(nèi)的眾多立法機構(gòu)批準(zhǔn)。

Supporters of the TPP are seeking to prevent Congress from making changes to any agreement reached at the trade talks.

跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系支持者正試圖阻止美國國會對貿(mào)易談判達成的任何協(xié)議做出修改。