2006年VOA标准英语-Official Repeats US Committment to Success

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
03 May 2006

U.S. Trade negotiators say Washington is committed to a successful outcome of the Doha Round of free trade talks.  They say an agreement is possible, but time is running out. 

---------------------------------------------

The Doha Round is in trouble.  Members of the World Trade Organization had agreed to put all new trade proposals on the table by April 30.  They missed that crucial deadline.  

 

Outgoing U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman speaks during a press conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at the US Embassy in Geneva  
  

U.S. Trade Representative, Rob Portman, flew into Geneva this week from Washington to do, as he says, whatever it takes to keep the talks on track.   He says agriculture remains¹ a key to success and ultimately, all countries, rich and poor alike, will benefit from liberalizing trade and from knocking down barriers.

"I would say that based on the conversations I have had this week, the United States is in league with the rest of the membership of the WTO in saying that we need to have new trade flows in order to have new economic activity, in order to have the global economic growth and specifically the benefits for developing countries in this round…Unless there is a more ambitious result in market access than is currently on the table from other countries, there is not going to be a successful round," Portman says.

The Doha Round aims to lower barriers to trade around the world, with a focus on making trade fairer for developing countries

Portman notes a bold proposal made by the United States in October to cut domestic farm subsidies² energized³ the round.  But, that momentum⁴ since has dissipated.  He blames this on  the European Union, which he says, has not reciprocated⁵.

The United States proposed cutting its farm subsidies by 60 percent.  The European Union also offered 60 percent cuts in subsidies.  But, since the EU gives its farmers more than twice as much financial support as the United States, Washington rejected the proposal as too low.  

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns gestures during a press briefing at the U.S. mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 3, 2006  
  
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, says from conversations he has had, he is sure that all countries, developed and developing alike, are passionate⁶ in their commitment to the round and in their commitment to market access.

" I believe that trade in agriculture in this world cries out for reform," he says. "There are too many parts of the world where tariffs⁷ are too high, where the barriers are too great for trade to occur…I believe we can get agreement in this round.  I know time is short.  I know the weeks pass quickly, but I am absolutely convinced that if we commit ourselves, we can have success in this round and, therefore, success for the world economy."  

The U.S. trade negotiators say proposals have to be ready by early July.  Otherwise, it will be very difficult to pull the agreement together.

The World Bank estimates that full liberalization of world trade would boost the incomes of developing countries by up to 259 billion dollars by 2015. 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 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》

3 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

4 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

5 reciprocated   

v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动

参考例句：

• Her passion for him was not reciprocated. 她对他的热情没有得到回应。
• Their attraction to each other as friends is reciprocated. 作为朋友，他们相互吸引着对方。 来自辞典例句

6 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

7 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。