VOA慢速英语2012 Economics Report - US-China Trade: Calls for Reform

 

Economics Report - US-China Trade: Calls for Reform

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Last week, we told about a recent talk in Washington on trade ties between the United States and China. Former Secretary of the Treasury¹ Henry Paulson spoke² with Former National Security Advisor³ Steve Hadley. The two men talked about the recent slowdown in the Chinese economy and the need for more personal spending in China.

They also discussed the need for China to reform its state-owned companies. These companies often operate with low interest loans and a lot of help from the government.

Earlier this month, President Obama said China was creating “an unfair playing field” in its car industry.

In July, the Obama administration requested talks, or consultations⁴, at the World Trade Organization. The United States says China has unfairly placed more than three billion dollars in taxes on imports of American-made cars. Officials say increasing the price of imports helps Chinese carmakers.

Mister Paulson said Chinese government aid for state-owned companies, like oil companies and carmakers, will end up hurting China’s economy.

HENRY PAULSON: “The only way that the Chinese are going to be able to successfully make the transition that they’re going to need to make to an economy that’s much more efficient is by continuing to reform the state owned enterprises, have them compete on a level playing field without all the subsidies⁵ and the special benefits and if they don’t do that they’re not going to realize the full potential of the economy and they’re not going to make the transition that they need to make.”

Chinese exports to the United States remain strong. Demand for Chinese goods rose more than eleven percent in June, compared to the same period last year.

And China says total trade so far this year is nearly two trillion dollars. That is up eight percent. China’s strong imports have helped the country raise millions out of poverty.

These gains were noted⁶ at recent human rights talks between the United States and China. But, American officials say political reforms in China have been slow.

The head of the American delegation⁷, Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, spoke to reporters this week. He noted China’s economic gains.

But Mr. Posner said political reforms in the country have not kept up with its economic changes. He said the human rights situation in China continues to get worse.

MICHAEL POSNER: “Like people everywhere, Chinese people want to be treated with dignity. This means they seek economic opportunity and jobs. At the same time, they seek a lawful⁸ way to voice legitimate⁹ grievances¹⁰ and have a meaningful role in the political development of their own society.”

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. For transcripts¹¹, MP3s and now PDFs of our programs for e-readers, go to www.voanews.cn. I’m Mario Ritter.

1 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。

2 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。

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

9 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

10 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句