新奇事件簿 信息技术产品将零关税

There is a new global trade agreement that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed to end tariffs¹ and import duties on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect a wide variety of products, including smartphones, digital cameras, ink cartridges², video game consoles³ and even telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be completely removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 trillion worth of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.

新一轮的全球贸易协定将让信息技术产品更加廉价。已经有超过50个国家同意就200多种信息技术产品免除关税和进口税。欧盟所有28个成员国都签署了该协议，还包括中国、日本、韩国、美国等。该协议是在日内瓦世贸组织大会上签订的。这将对包括智能手机、数码相机、打印机墨盒、电脑游戏甚至是通信卫星等产品构成影响。在未来四年内，信息技术产品清单将完全免除进口税。该协议的全球贸易额将达到13亿美金。相当于全球贸易的7%。

Many people believe the deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner⁴, Cecilia Malmstrom, said: "This is a great deal for consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard [on] this compromise⁵ between different countries to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal will cut costs for consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been hit especially hard…in the past." Ms Malmstrom hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next few years. She said: "It clearly shows that countries around the world can work together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joining soon."

许多人相信该协议将有利于全球。欧盟贸易执行委员马尔姆施特伦称：“这对于顾客，以及不同规模的企业来说都是好事。我们在各方中寻找最佳的解决办法，我们一直为此努力着。”她还称：“该协议将减少顾客和企业的开支，特别是那些曾经遭受过重创的小型企业。马尔姆施特伦女士希望未来几年能够有更多国家签订此协议。她称：“全球各国能够齐心协作，找出造福于全人类的解决办法，这是显而易见的。我希望会有更多国家参与其中。”

1 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。

2 cartridges   

子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头

参考例句：

• computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges 如磁盘、打印机墨盒之类的电脑耗材
• My new video game player came with three game cartridges included. 我的新电子游戏机附有三盘游戏带。

3 consoles   

（机器、电子设备等的）控制台( console的名词复数 )； 操纵台； 悬臂； 肘托

参考例句：

• Computer games consoles are getting better, cheaper and smaller than ever before. 电脑主机正在变得更好，更便宜也更小。
• Manufacturer of professional audio mixing consoles for sound reinforcement, recording and installation. 专业的录音和安装的控制台的制造业者。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 compromise   

n.妥协；妥协方案；vt.损害；vi.妥协，让步

参考例句：

• The spokesman made it clear that no compromise was yet in sight.发言人表明，目前还不会妥协。
• The probable outcome of the talks is a compromise.会谈的结果很可能是妥协。