VOA慢速英语--美国和巴西领导人寻求加强两国间贸易关系

US, Brazilian Leaders Seek Stronger Trade Ties Between Countries

The leaders of the Western Hemisphere's two largest economies are promising¹ to create closer trade and military ties.

American President Donald Trump² and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro spoke³ to the press after they met at the White House.

Trump promised American support for Brazil to join the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD). The 36-member group includes most of the world’s highly developed economies.

Trump also suggested that Brazil join the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO). Trump said for that to happen, however, he would "have to talk to a lot of people."

One reporter on Tuesday asked Trump if a United States military intervention⁴ in Venezuela is possible. "All options are open," Trump answered.

He said that the United States has yet to order the most extreme restrictions⁵ on Venezuela.

In the oil-rich country, there is no food, water or air-conditioning, Trump said.

Bolsonaro added, "People are starving to death”

"We need to put an end to this," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, the United States and Brazil signed an agreement to support American space launches from Brazil. The U.S. State Department says the deal will ensure the right treatment of sensitive technology in line with U.S. policies and laws.

The two countries have never had especially close relations. Brazil has traditionally been concerned about American influence in Latin America.

But now the leaders of both countries are linked by shared concerns. These include the crisis in Venezuela, Cuba's involvement there and the possible threat from China's rising influence on politics in South and Central America.

I’m Caty Weaver⁶.

Words in This Story

option - n. the opportunity or ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 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。

3 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。

4 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。