贸易摩擦或损害美国啤酒行业

Tariffs² Could Hurt US Beer Industry

Dan Katt opened his beer company, Good City Brewing³, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2016.

At the time, it was a presidential election year. He did not think about the possibility of a trade dispute between President Donald Trump⁴’s administration and China.

“I don’t think we even contemplated⁶ that that administration would exist,” he told VOA.

He also did not consider that his decision to put the alcoholic⁷ drink in cans instead of bottles would make his business success more difficult.

“We always planned to can our products. I don’t think we necessarily expected to have probably our single, biggest expense –packaging materials—be directly impacted by tariffs.”

Katt’s cans are made of the metal aluminum⁸. He says much of his supply comes from China which faces a 10 percent tariff¹ on aluminum products.

Katt said his company usually buys 215,000 cans at a time. He said he expects to pay higher prices for cans the next time he has to order them.

The Trump administration placed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to help U.S. producers of those metals and to protect jobs in those industries. The tariffs are starting to effect many parts of the U.S. economy. That includes the growing craft beer industry because it uses aluminum for its cans.

President Trump says the tariffs are working. He has called China’s trade actions “abusive.” However, he told a large group of supporters recently that China “wants to make a deal.”

A U.S. Treasury⁹ Department report supports the president’s claims. It shows that government income from tariffs this year has increased 30 percent over last year.

Brian Kuehl is the executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, a group that opposes tariffs. He disagrees with the president.

"Tariffs are taxes on American citizens. When we put tariffs on steel and aluminum, it drives up the cost of steel and aluminum in the United States,” he said.

Farmers for Free Trade has its eyes on the future of trade and is not concerned with who the president is, Kuehl said.

The group has launched a nationwide “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland” campaign. It includes an $800,000 advertising¹⁰ campaign. The group is holding public events across the country to talk about the economic problems caused by tariffs.

At an event in Wisconsin, Dan Katt represented one of several businesses hurt by the tariffs on Chinese products.

“We don’t think that the current trade war with China is going in the right direction,” Kuehl said.

“We think it's increasing costs for U.S. manufacturers, it’s increasing costs for U.S. farmers, and it's decreasing export(s)…We’re causing long-term damage to American agriculture and our ability to compete in foreign markets,” he added.

Good City Brewing is one of about 75 beer-making companies now in Wisconsin, a state with a long history of beer production.

Katt said his company will continue to grow, with or without the tariffs. He hopes the U.S. and China can reach an agreement on trade before he must pass on the increased costs to the buyers of his product.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

beer – n. an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops¹¹

contemplate⁵ – v. to think deeply or carefully about (something)

expense – n. the cost of something

packaging –n. material used to enclose or contain something

tariff – n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

craft – adj. an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands

1 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

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 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

6 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

7 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

8 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

9 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。

10 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

11 hops   

跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• The sparrow crossed the lawn in a series of hops. 那麻雀一蹦一跳地穿过草坪。
• It is brewed from malt and hops. 它用麦精和蛇麻草酿成。