经济学人:亚太贸易协定 美国与日本

 　　The United States, Japan and trade

　　亚太贸易协定：美国与日本

　　Don't treat trade as a weapon

　　别将贸易协定作为武器

　　An Asian-Pacific trade deal looks within reach, but politicians should stop seeing it as a way to contain China

　　亚太贸易协定似乎触手可及,但政客们应该停止将其视为牵制中国的一种方式

　　GOOD news out of Washington is rare. Last week congressional leaders agreed on a bipartisan bill which, if passed, would for the first time in years give the president “fast-track” authority when negotiating trade deals. The bill would be a boost for the prospects¹ of a huge trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership² (TPP), binding³ America with 11 economies (including Japan but not China) around the Pacific rim⁴. Now, as if on cue, come welcome signals about the TPP itself. As Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, prepared to head to Washington for a much-anticipated trip including an invitation to address a joint⁵ session of Congress (see article), he claimed that America and Japan were close to agreement over their bilateral⁶ terms—on which the whole TPP deal hinges.

　　从华盛顿传来了罕见的好消息。上周美国两党达成共识，如法案通过，美国总统在贸易协定谈判领域可获得快车道授权。该法案将成为促进贸易协议的最大助力点，且能促进跨太平洋伙伴关系(TPP)的形成。TPP即指，美国联合环太平洋的十一个国家（包括日本，但不包括中国）而形成的经济战略伙伴关系。现在，不出人所料，一切的好消息都是向着TPP顺利谈成而发展的。备受瞩目下，日本首相安倍晋三 (Shinzo Abe)将前往华盛顿，包括受邀在国会议席上发表讲话(见文章)，他声称美国和日本正在就TPP协定关键的双边协议条款进行商讨，就快达成一致了。

　　亚太贸易协定 美国与日本.jpg

　　Yet there are two big caveats⁷. First, fast track, formally known as Trade Promotion⁸ Authority, may still fall foul⁹ of Congress. Second, Japan may not make any serious cuts to tariffs¹⁰ that protect its farmers. Those outcomes are more likely because the Obama administration and the Japanese government have made a similar mistake: both have been too quick to cast the TPP as a weapon in the containment¹¹ of China.

　　但有两大阻力值得引起重视。首先，快车道授权(正式上称为贸易促进授权)，仍会受到国会的干涉。其次，日本为了保护农民，不可能果断地削减关税。就目前的阻力而言，奥巴马及安倍晋三政府都犯了一个极为相似的错误：过快的将TPP作为牵制中国的武器。

　　Flanked by Japan and America, the TPP would link countries which make up 40% of global GDP. It could boost world output by $220 billion a year by 2025. It is supposed to reform difficult areas such as intellectual property, state-owned firms and environmental and labour standards. It would join economies—from Vietnam to Australia—that lie at different ends of the spectrum¹² of development.

　　TPP以日本和美国为两个最大的经济体，其覆盖的国家GDP总值能够占全球GDP的40%。且TPP预计可于2025年，为世界经济每年带来2200亿美元的额外收益。同时TPP还在一些困难领域上支持改革，比如知识产权、国有企业及环境问题，以及劳工标准。协议将覆盖从越南到澳大利亚的众多经济体，尽管它们处在不同的发展领域。

　　But the TPP will not happen without fast track, which forces Congress into a yes/no vote on any pending¹³ trade deal and so avoids the risk that it will be amended¹⁴ into oblivion. And the passage of fast track faces a lot of scepticism from Democrats¹⁵ (see article). Some are implacably opposed. Others want America to have a bigger arsenal¹⁶ with which to fight against unfair traders. Driven by a conviction that China artificially holds its currency down and destroys American jobs, Charles Schumer, a powerful senator from New York, is determined¹⁷ that fast track should include a provision that would make sure a trade deal included sanctions on currency manipulation.

　　但TPP必须以快车道授权为先决条件，才有其存在的意义。这也迫使国会尽快对这个一直悬而未决的贸易协定进行投票,以避免该法案被遗忘。但快车道授权仍受到许多来自民主党的质疑(见文章)。其中一些人对此法案表示坚决反对。而其他人则希望美国有一个更为强大的军力来对抗不公平的交易。 来自纽约的强有力的参议员查尔斯?舒默(Charles Schumer)，坚信中国人为的控制人民币汇率并破坏美国的就业机会, 因而他认为快轨授权应包括一项足以确保贸易协议能对汇率操纵进行制裁的条款。

　　Attaching a currency-manipulation clause to trade deals is a poor idea, both because the practice is hard to define and because the addition of such clauses makes reaching an agreement less likely. But since the Obama administration has pitched TPP as a counterbalance to an assertive¹⁸ China, Mr Schumer's demands are harder to ignore.

　　在贸易协议上增加人民币汇率操纵的条款，这是一个卑鄙的想法,原因有两个：其一操纵作法很难定义；其二，添加这样的条款只会让协议达成一致遥遥无期。但是因为奥巴马政府是把TPP作为牵制强硬的中国的一种手段，所以舒默的提议更不容忽视。

　　Give trade a chance、

　　给达成贸易协定一个机会

　　The same mistaken logic¹⁹ looks set to cause problems in Japan. Mr Abe committed his country to joining the TPP on strategic grounds—as a counterweight to China—rather than because he is a born admirer of free trade. When he entered negotiations²⁰, some of his backers thought that, by playing the China card, Japan would be spared from making real concessions²¹: that America would care more about a pact²² that excluded China than about prising open Japan's most protected markets, particularly rice. Even now, Japan seems to want to keep tariffs high. The best it may offer is to allow in a fixed²³ quota²⁴ of tariff-free rice from the TPP's other members, America included.

　　相同错误的逻辑似乎会给日本带来问题。安倍承诺日本将加入TPP的战略基础是因为想牵制中国发展,而不是因为他是一个天生的自由贸易的崇拜者。当他加入谈判,他的一些支持者认为,只有打中国牌,日本才能免于真正去承认：美国更关心摒弃掉中国市场的协定，而不是撬开日本一直以来最受保护的市场,尤其是大米市场。即使是现在,日本似乎仍想保持高关税。而最好的解决方案是从包括美国在内的TPP其他成员国那里，准予日本需以一个固定的大米免关税配额进入。

　　If the China-containment logic leads to a minimalist agreement, then the economic gains from TPP will be slim. TPP's real value is to set high new standards for world trade, and that demands the boldest possible agreement. And in the long run the world gains most if China joins. The rhetoric²⁵ makes trade negotiations sound like a contest. In fact, it is a battle where the more you give away the more you win.

　　如果说牵制中国这一逻辑造就了极简主义的协议，那么从TPP获取的经济收益将会减少。TPP的真正价值是为世界贸易设置更高的新标准,并要求尽可能大胆的提出协议。从长远来看，如若能让中国加入TPP协议，世界获益也最大。现在的措辞使贸易谈判听起来像一场竞争。事实上,这是一场你放弃越多，赢得的也就越多的战斗。

　　1.prepare to 准备

　　例句:Others urged obama to prepare to return to copenhagen.

　　也有其他人敦促奥巴马做好准备重回哥本哈根。

　　2.head to 引至，通到

　　例句:Some fear that entrepreneurs from toronto may head to other regions unless better funding options become available.

　　有些人担心如果不提供更好的融资选择，多伦多的创业者可能转战其他地区。

　　3.close to 接近,靠近

　　例句:The results were remarkably²⁶ close to observed plate movements.

　　计算结果与观测到的板块运动非常接近。

　　4.make up 组成；补足

　　例句:I think it's very unkind of you to make up stories about him.

　　我认为你编造他的谣言很不厚道。

1 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

2 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。

3 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

4 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 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。

7 caveats   

警告

参考例句：

• I would offer a caveat for those who want to join me in the dual calling. 为防止发生误解，我想对那些想要步我后尘的人提出警告。 来自辞典例句
• As I have written before, that's quite a caveat. 正如我以前所写，那确实是个警告。 来自互联网

8 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

9 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

10 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

11 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

12 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

13 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

14 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

15 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

17 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

18 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

19 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

20 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

21 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

22 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

23 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

24 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

25 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

26 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。