VOA双语新闻 $40 Billion in Poor Nation's Debt Cancelled b

President Bush wants Congress to ratify¹ a free-trade agreement with Central American nations. Democrats² say the plan weakens labor³ rights and would cost jobs in the United States.

美国总统布什要求国会批准中美洲国家自由贸易协议，可是民主党说，这个计划会削弱劳工权益，减少美国的就业机会。

President Bush says he will use a Monday meeting in Florida to tell leaders from the Organization of American States that a regional free trade agreement is a good deal for workers, farmers and small businesses in the United States and throughout the hemisphere.

布什总统说，他星期一将在佛罗里达州举行的会谈中告诉美洲国家组织领导人，地区性自由贸易协议将有利于美国和整个美洲的工人、农民和小业主。

In his weekly radio address, President Bush again called on Congress to ratify that plan, known as the Central America and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA.

布什总统在每周广播讲话中再一次呼吁国会批准这个计划，也就是中美洲和多米尼加共和国自由贸易协议，或者简称为中美洲自由贸易协议。

"CAFTA will lower barriers in key sectors⁴, like textiles, which will make American manufacturers more competitive in the global market," the president said. "And CAFTA will make our neighborhood more secure by strengthening young democracies. CAFTA is a practical, pro-jobs piece of legislation. And Congress needs to pass it soon."

他说：“中美洲自由贸易协议会减少纺织品等主要行业的贸易壁垒，可以提高美国制造商在世界市场上的竞争力。这个协议还可以使我们的地区更加安全，巩固新兴的民主国家。这个计划是实用的，是有利于就业的，国会应该尽快通过。”

President Bush says it is not fair that about 80 percent of products from Central America and the Dominican Republic enter the United States duty free, while U.S. exports to those countries face hefty tariffs⁵.

布什总统说，从中美洲和多米尼加共和国进入美国的产品中，80%是免税的，而美国向这些国家出口的产品却要被征收沉重的关税，这是不公平的。

He says CAFTA will level the playing field by making about 80 percent of U.S. exports to those countries duty free.

布什总统说，中美洲自由贸易协议会导致美国向这些国家出口的产品的大约80%也享受免税待遇，从而建立一个公平竞争的机制。

Congressional Democrats, who oppose the agreement, say it fails to safeguard environmental and labor protections for lower wage workers in Central America.

反对这个计划的美国国会民主党人士说，这个协议不能保护环境和中美洲那些低工资劳工的权益。

In the Democratic radio address, North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan says more workers in the United States will lose their jobs, and the U.S. trade deficit⁶ will grow, if Congress ratifies⁷ CAFTA.

来自北达科他州的民主党参议员拜伦·德尔根在广播讲话中说，如果国会通过这个协议的话，更多的美国人将失业，美国的贸易赤字将会上升。

"How many more American [U.S.] workers will lose their jobs to cheap foreign labor, before we understand that the current trade policy puts our standard of living in the U.S. in a race to the bottom?" Senator Dorgan said. "Why does the president oppose our efforts to shut down tax breaks now given to these corporations that move American [U.S.] jobs overseas?"

他说：“现有的贸易政策使我们的生活水平越来越低。在我们充份认识到这一点之前，还会有多少美国人会因为海外廉价劳工而失业？我们正在努力取消一些美国公司由于把美国的就业机会转移到国外而获得减税优惠。为什么布什总统要反对我们呢？

President Bush also faces legislative⁸ opposition⁹ on CAFTA from some within his own party, mostly Republicans from states with large textile mills and sugar plantations¹⁰, threatened by foreign competition.

布什总统的这个计划还遭到一些共和党人的反对，他们大多数来自那些以纺织和制糖业为主，受到海外竞争威胁的州。
 
 

1 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

2 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》

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 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。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 ratifies   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• American Revolutionary War: The United States ratifies a peace treaty with England. 1784年的今天，美国独立战争：美国批准了一项与英国的和平条约。 来自互联网
• Each Member which ratifies this Convention shall ensure the effectiveapplication of its provis ions. 批准本公约的每一会员国应确保有效地实施本公约的规定。 来自互联网

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

9 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。

10 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句