US, Canada Announce Trade, Security Deals

 　　The United States and Canada have announced deals to ease the flow of trade between them and improve security on their common border.  President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met Wednesday at the White House.

　　The U.S. and Canada have the world’s largest bilateral¹ trading relationship, with more than $1.1 trillion in trade and investment crossing the border last year.

　　The two countries’ leaders have announced two agreements which President Obama said will further streamline² cross-border trade and improve their common security.

　　“Put simply, we are going to make it easier to conduct the trade and travel that creates jobs, and we are going to make it harder for those who would do us harm and threaten our security," said President Obama.

　　Mr. Obama said more than 90 percent of U.S.-Canada trade passes through roads, bridges and ports, many of which he says need updating.

　　The president said one of the deals will provide those upgrades.

　　“We are going to improve our infrastructure," said Obama. "We are going to introduce new technologies.  We are going to improve cargo³ security and screening-all designed to make it easier for our companies to do business and create jobs.”

　　The agreement would also boost security along the U.S.-Canadian border, through increased coordination⁴ and the sharing of intelligence between the two allies.

　　The other deal would reduce regulations on cross-border trade.

　　Prime Minister Harper said the agreements are the most important between Canada and the U.S. in almost 20 years.

　　“These agreements create a new, modern border for a new century," said Prime Minister Harper. "Together they represent the most significant steps forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.”

　　The two leaders also discussed an issue that has caused some difficulty between them, the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline⁵, which would pump oil from Canada to the US state of Texas.

　　Mr. Obama delayed a decision on a route for the pipeline until 2013, after environmentalists complained about the possible ecological⁶ impact.

　　The president said Wednesday he told Mr. Harper it is important to ensure that all questions about the project are answered before the pipeline goes ahead.

　　Opposition⁷ Republicans in Congress say the $7 billion project would create thousands of jobs and reduce U.S. dependence⁸ on Middle Eastern oil.  Republican leaders have threatened to approve Mr. Obama’s proposal to extend payroll⁹ tax cuts only if he approves the Keystone pipeline too.

　　The president warned Republican lawmakers not to hold hostage the payroll tax cut or any other legislation.

　　“Any effort to try to tie Keystone to the payroll tax cut, I will reject," he said.

　　Mr. Obama also said he is pleased that Canada has expressed an interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership¹⁰, a nine-country trade group. Japan and Mexico have also shown interest in joining the group.

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

3 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

6 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

9 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。