VOA慢速英语2012 Economics Report - Limits on Rare Earth Exports Get China in Trade Dispute

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This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

The United States, European Union and Japan have called for talks with China under the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization. They want to discuss China’s export limits on rare earth metals and two other minerals, tungsten and molybdenum. WTO rules give talks sixty days to work. If they do not settle the dispute, a WTO panel can then be requested to help reach a settlement.

美国、欧盟和日本已经提出根据世界贸易组织争端解决机制与中国磋商。他们希望商讨中国在稀土金属以及其它两种矿物质钨、钼上的出口限制。世贸组织的规则为磋商解决提供了60天时间。如果他们未能解决争端，就可以要求一个世贸组织专家小组帮助达成协议。

Rare earth metals are used in the manufacture of almost every high-technology device -- from mobile phones and computers to batteries for electric cars. And demand is only growing.

稀土金属用于几乎所有高科技设备的制造--从手机、电脑到电动汽车电池。对稀土的需求一直在增长。

China says it follows WTO rules in exporting the minerals. In twenty ten, China mined about one hundred thirty thousand metric tons of rare earth metals. That was about ninety-seven percent of world production.

中国表示它在矿物出口上遵守了世贸组织的规则。2010年，中国开采了大约13万吨稀土金属，占到全球总产量的97%。

But information from China’s government and the United States Geological Survey shows that China has reduced its export limits sharply in the past two years. Critics say this unfairly helps Chinese companies in the production of high-technology products. And, they say, it is a violation² of World Trade Organization rules.

但来自中国政府和美国地质调查局的信息显示，过去两年中国已经在大幅降低其出口限额。批评人士表示，这种不公平帮助了中国企业在高科技产品上的生产。他们还说，这违反了世界贸易组织的规则。

This week, President Obama explained why the United States is involved in the case.

本周，奥巴马总统解释了美国为什么参与了这起诉讼。

BARACK OBAMA: "This case involves something called rare earth materials, which are used by American manufacturers to make high-tech¹ products like advanced batteries that power everything from hybrid³ cars to cell phones. We want our companies building those products right here in America. But to do that American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth materials, which China supplies. Now, if China would simply let the market work on its own, we'd have no objections. But their policies currently are preventing that from happening, and they go against the very rules that China agreed to follow."

奥巴马：“这起诉讼涉及了稀土材料，美国制造商使用它们制造高科技产品，例如驱动从混合电力汽车到手机等一切东西的先进电池。我们希望我们的公司在美国生产这些产品，但达到这一目的，美国制造商必须获得中国提供的稀土金属。现在，如果中国让市场自己决定，我们会没有异议。但他们目前的政策正是阻止这一切的发生，这违背了中国承诺遵循的规则。”

President Obama added that the United States has a productive economic relationship with China. But he said he would take action if American workers or businesses were facing unfair trade policies.

奥马巴总统还表示，美国和中国之间具有富有成效的经济关系。但他表示，如果美国工人或企业面临不公平的贸易政策，他将采取行动。

China says it has restricted rare earth exports to meet needs at home. And it says its policy helps limit the environmental damage caused by over-mining.

中国表示限制稀土出口是为了满足国内需求。并表示，其政策有助于限制过度开采导致的环境破坏。

China now faces a slowing economy. In February, the nation had its biggest trade deficit⁴ in ten years. Experts expect China’s central bank to increase the money supply to aid economic growth. At the same time, inflation remains⁵ a threat.

中国目前面临着经济增长放缓。今年二月，中国出现了数十年来最大的贸易赤字。专家估计，中国央行会增加货币供应量以帮助经济增长。与此同时，通货膨胀仍然是一个威胁。

On Wednesday, Chinese Premier⁶ Wen Jiabao discussed the need for reform. He said China “must continue to strike a balance between maintaining steady and robust⁷ economic development, making economic structural⁸ adjustments and managing inflationary expectations."

上周三，中国国务院总理温家宝谈到了改革的必要性。他表示中国“必须继续在保持经济平稳较快发展，调整经济结构和管理通胀预期之间保持平衡。”

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm June Simms.

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