VOA慢速英语 Nations React to Pacific Trade Agreements

AS IT IS 2015-10-07 Nations React to Pacific Trade Agreements

What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership¹ that 11 Asia-Pacific nations agreed to with the United States?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, sets rules or standards for trade between member nations. It aims to end more than 18,000 tariffs².

It also seeks to open the Internet among member nations, even in countries like Vietnam, which have tight online controls. The agreement is considered an important way for the United States to rebalance its economic presence among trading partners in Asia.

Supporters say the U.S.-led agreement would liberalize trade for 40 percent of the world economy. They say it is needed to compete with China’s growing economic power in Asia and beyond.

But supporters add they do not oppose China joining the group at some time. They say the agreement would require fairer trade standards of Asia’s largest economy.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised the agreement. He suggested China should seek to join the group.

He said, “It would contribute largely to our nation's security and Asia-Pacific regional stability, and it would have significant strategic meaning if China joined the system in the future.”

Other nations are considering joining the huge trade bloc³. South Korea has developed many bilateral⁴ trade deals around the world. It called the agreement, “The largest economic framework of the Asia-Pacific region.” South Korea’s Vice⁵ Prime Minister said his country is may take part in the TPP.

Thailand and the Philippines also are considering to join.

Members seek to lift industries at home

Koichi Nakano is a professor of political science at Sophia University in Tokyo. The professor says the agreement has no clear winners or losers.

“It depends on your economic position within those countries whether it is a good deal or not.”

In Japan, the auto⁶ industry hopes the agreement will open new markets for car parts that are used to make vehicles for export.

Manufacturers in countries with low wages such as Vietnam will gain increased access to the U.S. and Japanese markets. However, they also will be required to observe higher labor⁷ and environmental standards.

Some have pointed⁸ out that the TPP likely will result in higher prices for products like drugs. It lets companies that develop new medicines have rights to produce them for eight years before other companies can make legal copies of them.

But opponents of the agreement say it goes too far in helping⁹ business interests rather than workers’ rights. They point to the TPP investor-state dispute settlement system. Critics say it lets foreign investors¹⁰ take legal action against national governments over laws they disagree with.

Others, like professor Nakano, say worker’s rights will not be protected as strongly as corporate¹¹ interests.

In the U.S. Congress, Republican Senator John McCain voice strong support for measure. But others, like Republican Senator Susan Collins said they needed more time to study the agreement.

Earlier this year, the Senate approved Trade Promotion¹² Authority for the president. The measure means lawmakers only can vote for or against a trade agreement without adding amendments¹³ to it.

The 12 member nations still have to approve the Trans-Pacific trade agreement. Western Pacific members include Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. Members in North and South America include Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the U.S.

Words in This Story

liberalize – v. to make something less strict or more liberal

tariffs – n. taxes on imported goods

access – n. a way of getting near, at or to something or someone

bilateral – adj. involving two groups or countries

corporate – adj. involving or associated with a corporation

1 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。

2 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。

3 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

4 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。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

7 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。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

11 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

12 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。

13 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。