VOA慢速英语2020 美国和英国打击企业国外行贿力度最大

A new report rates the United States and Britain as the largest exporters most active at enforcing rules meant to stop companies from paying bribes¹ in foreign markets. The report found that many other nations are doing almost nothing to stop bribery².

一份新报告将美国和英国列为最积极执行旨在阻止企业在国外市场行贿的规定的最大出口国。该报告发现，其它许多国家都几乎未采取任何行动制止行贿。

The study comes from Transparency International, the Berlin-based anti-corruption³ group. It found that only four of 47 countries were actively⁴ enforcing laws against foreign bribery in 2019. The four countries -- the U.S., Britain, Switzerland and Israel -- are responsible for 16.5 percent of exports worldwide.

该研究来自于总部位于柏林的反腐败组织透明国际。该调查发现，在47个国家中，只有4个国家在2019年积极执行打击国外行贿的法律。这四个国家是美国、英国、瑞士和以色列，它们占全球出口的16.5%。

That compares with the seven countries identified as actively enforcing legislation against foreign bribery in 2018.

这与2018年有7个国家积极执行打击国外行贿的法律形成了鲜明对比。

"Our research shows that many countries are barely investigating foreign bribery," said Gillian Dell, the lead writer of the report.

该报告的主要作者吉莉安·戴尔表示：“我们的研究表明，许多国家几乎不调查国外行贿。”

"Unfortunately, it's all too common for businesses in wealthy countries to export corruption to poorer countries, undermining institutions and development," she added.

她还表示：“不幸的是，发达国家企业向贫穷国家出口腐败、破坏制度和发展，这些都太普遍了。”

The 1997 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development agreement bans bribes to win business deals, or to avoid paying taxes.

经合组织1997年通过的协议禁止通过行贿赢得商业合同或是避税。

China is the world's largest exporter and did not sign the agreement. The new report found that China had "little or no enforcement," as did India, and agreement signers Japan and South Korea.

中国是全球最大的出口国，该国没有签署该协议。这份新报告发现，中国和印度都很少或根本不执法，而签署了协议的日本和韩国也是如此。

Germany, the world's third-largest exporter, also signed the agreement. The report found Germany had "moderate enforcement," as do other major exporters like France, Italy and Spain.

全球第三大出口国德国也签署了该协议。报告发现，德国、法国、意大利和西班牙等其它主要出口国的执法力度均为中等。

Germany and Italy both fought fewer bribery cases in 2019 than during 2018, while France and Spain improved their performance.

德国和意大利2019年打击行贿的案件比2018年要少，而法国和西班牙的表现有所改善。

Agreement signers Netherlands, Canada and Austria are the biggest exporters that showed only "limited enforcement," the report said.

报告称，签署了协议的荷兰、加拿大和澳大利亚是仅展现出“有限执法力度”的最大出口国。

"Too many governments choose to turn a blind eye when their companies use bribery to win business in foreign markets," noted⁵ Transparency International's head, Delia Ferreira Rubio.

透明国际的负责人迪莉亚·费雷拉·鲁比奥表示：“当企业利用贿赂在国外市场赢得业务的时候，大多数政府都选择视而不见。”

"G20 countries and other major economies have a responsibility to enforce the rules," she added.

她还说：“二十国集团国家和其它主要经济体有责任执行这些规定。”

Transparency's suggestions include ending secrecy⁶ in ownership of companies. The group says secrecy makes investigating foreign bribery difficult. It also is used to protect parent companies from being responsible for the actions of their foreign subsidiaries.

透明度国际提出的建议包括终止公司所有权的保密性。该组织表示，保密使得调查国外行贿变得困难。它还被用于保护母公司免于对其国外子公司的行为负责。

1 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

2 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

5 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。

6 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。