2007年VOA标准英语-South Korea Releases 1,200-Page Trade Deal With

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
25 May 2007

South Korea's government has released the full text of a trade liberalization deal with the United States. Supporters and opponents of the controversial agreement are now searching the 1,200-page document for ammunition¹ in a mounting political battle over whether the deal should be ratified². VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told business leaders in Seoul Friday the full text of the South Korea - U.S. Free Trade Agreement is now open for discussion.

"So we are subject to any comments - any support, or any criticism that our people, our academia, and members of our National Assembly can put forward," he said.

South Korean and U.S. officials say the deal will reinvigorate the two countries' already robust³ $70 billion a year trade relationship, generating high paying jobs and consumer benefits across the board.

However, the deal faces intense and emotional opposition⁴ from many South Koreans, who fear the much larger U.S. economy will crush entire sectors⁵ of South Korean production. Many South Koreans say Friday's release of the deal's details comes far too late. They say the government failed to consult the public adequately during 10 months of intense negotiation⁶ before the deal announcement in early April.

Kim Jong-Hoon, South Korea's chief negotiator in FTA talks with the United States, shows documents during a news conference in Seoul, 25 May 2007

Some critics say the negotiating process was rushed through to accommodate a U.S. political deadline in June, after which any deal would face a higher level of scrutiny⁷ from Congress.

The agreement stipulates⁸ that President Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun must sign it by the end of June. Prime Minister Han says the legislative⁹ debate will begin soon after that.

"We will submit to the National Assembly for the ratification¹⁰ process as soon as possible - so, maybe it will take one month after the signing," he said.

Exactly when the legislatures in the two countries will each bring the deal to a ratification vote remains¹¹ a matter of speculation¹². However, some experts say it is possible there will be a vote before President Roh's term ends in January.

Negotiators say the deal may also be slightly adjusted to reflect policies of the new Democratic Party majority in the U.S. Congress. Democratic lawmakers are seeking stronger environmental and labor¹³ protections in trade agreements.

1 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

2 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

7 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

8 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

9 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

10 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

11 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。

12 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

13 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。