US Looking to Foreign Investors for Jobs

 　　The Obama administration is trying to attract more foreign investors¹ to boost the U.S. economy. Washington is encouraging U.S. firms to get out and compete for a larger share of the international market.

　　U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the reason behind this push for greater foreign investment is clear: Americans need jobs.

　　She says free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama have helped put the United States on track to double U.S. exports over five years as Washington moves to keep pace with emerging economies.

　　"Our power in the 21st century depends not just on the size of our military but also on what we grow, how well we innovate², what we make, and how effectively we sell.  Rising powers like China, India, and Brazil understand this as well, and we cannot sit on the sidelines while they put economics at the center of their foreign policies,” Clinton said.

　　Secretary Clinton spoke³ at a global business conference that joined U.S. business support groups from more than 100 countries with private sector⁴ leaders and government officials from the departments of State, Commerce, Treasury⁵, and Energy.

　　She says “jobs diplomacy” means bringing more foreign investors to the U.S., selling more domestic goods abroad, and ensuring that companies compete fairly across borders.

　　Part of leveling that playing field is fighting corruption⁶, forced technology transfers, the piracy⁷ of intellectual property, and preferential treatment for state-owned firms to ensure that the global economic system is transparent⁸ and fair.

　　She says the United States will not stand by when its competitors do not play by the rules.

　　"This administration has already brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate of our predecessors⁹.  And now a special new Trade Enforcement Unit is being established to go after unfair trading practices.  Last Friday, the president announced that when other nations provide unfair financing for their exports, we will offer matching support to competing U.S. firms,” Clinton said.

　　For all the changes she says the Obama administration is making to better help U.S. businesses compete abroad, Clinton says it is up to the private sector to take advantage.

　　"Foreign leaders often say to me, “Where are the American businesses?  How come they are not here competing for this construction contract or that mining deal?  What are they waiting for?”  As I have described today, this administration is doing everything we can to help American companies, large and small, compete and succeed.  But ultimately, we know it is up to you.  We can not help you if you are not hungry enough to get out there and compete for the business that is going to be available,” Clinton said.

　　The global business conference continues Wednesday with regional sessions targeting specific opportunities for private sector investors in individual markets.

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

8 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

9 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》