2018年CRI Protectionism not the answer to address trade disputes: UN Chief

 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that protectionism is not the answer to address issues such as trade disputes and calls for trade frictions¹ to be solved through dialogue and cooperation.

The UN Chief has made the comments while speaking with Chinese media at the UN headquarters in New York before leaving for China to attend the annual Boao Forum² for Asia. 

Asked about his opinions on the escalating³ trade conflict between the U.S. and China, Guterres is suggesting the two world economic powers need to sit down and sort things out.

"Trade wars are always bad for those involved in the trade war, and for the international economy as a whole. We need to have international cooperation. Wherever there is a problem, there must be dialogue, there must be a serious discussion to overcome the problem. I hope that this tension would be able to subside⁴ and I hope that there would be an agreement to be established between the two countries on the way forward," Guterres says.

Guterres is recommending trade issues which can't be dealt with bilaterally⁵ should be arbitrated through the World Trade Organization. 

"I am a strong believer in multilateralism to address global problems. There is no way global problems can be addressed on a country-by-country basis. Global problems need to have global answers, and global answers can only be implemented⁶ through multilateral frameworks. The international framework that governs global trade is of extreme importance with the World Trade Organization at its center," Guterres adds.

Describing himself as a true believer in free trade, Guterres says the WTO has proven itself through the years, and still remains⁷ critical in keeping international trade policies in-place. 

Asked about the pro's and con's of globalization, Guterres notes the world is going to be much more interconnected in the future than it is even now. 

"So the answer to address those problems is not protectionism, is not isolationism, the answer to address those problems is international cooperation, and the Agenda 2030 can be a very important instrument for that," Guterres notes.

The UN Chief has also taken time to laud⁸ China's contribution to world economic growth, noting China is a key contributor to the UN 2030 Agenda.

"I believe that China's commitment to globalization, China's commitment to free trade, China's commitment to international cooperation, and especially with the developing world, the Belt and Road Initiative, is a perfect demonstration⁹ of that," Guterres says.

Guterres will be among a long list of top-level delegates attending this year's Bo'ao Forum for Asia, which is set to kick off this Sunday in Hainan.

1 frictions   

n.摩擦( friction的名词复数 )；摩擦力；冲突；不和

参考例句：

• Family frictions can interfere with a child's schoolwork. 家庭中的争吵会影响孩子的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• As far as we are concerned, these frictions are not of our own making [have been imposed on us]. 就我们来说，这种摩擦是被动式的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

4 subside   

vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降

参考例句：

• The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。

5 bilaterally   

[医]adv.两侧，双向地

参考例句：

• The data in the Performance Test shall be Bilaterally recorded and confirmed. 在生产线考核期间的数据应由双方共同记录并确认。
• Anatomic constraints may preclude the insertion a transarticular screw unilaterally or bilaterally. 解剖制约可能妨碍单边或双边插入关节螺钉。

6 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 laud   

n.颂歌；v.赞美

参考例句：

• Kathy was very pleased to have graduated cum laud in her class.凯西在班上以优等成绩毕业，她为此而非常高兴。
• We laud him a warmhearted man.我们称赞他是个热心人。

9 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。