ECONOMICS REPORT - WTO Makes Progress on Doha Round of Talks

ECONOMICS¹ REPORT - WTO Makes Progress on Doha Round of Talks
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, August 06, 2004

This is Bob Doughty² with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Rich and poor nations have produced a new set of trade agreements at the World Trade Organization. The main issue for many developing countries was government support for farmers. Developing nations say rich nations give support called subsidies³ to farmers. They say this drives down the price of agricultural goods.

Now, WTO members including Brazil, the European Union, Japan and the United States have agreed to reduce subsidies.

The WTO General Council⁴ met last week in Geneva, Switzerland, to negotiate⁵ what is called the Doha Round of trade talks. This series of talks deals with more than forty trade issues in twelve areas.

Members agreed to cut agricultural subsidies by twenty percent in the first year of the agreement. Export subsidies are to be completely ended in the future.

Special consideration is given to developing countries. Some products are recognized as more important than others to a nation's economy.

The agreement notes the importance of cotton to developing countries. It says cotton trade will be dealt with in a different way from other agricultural issues.

The agreement also calls for the highest import taxes on agricultural goods to be cut by the largest amount.

In a victory for many developing countries, members voted not to deal with three of four so-called⁶ Singapore issues. These are trade issues that industrial nations wanted to negotiate as a group in this series of talks. They include easing⁷ trade restrictions⁸, investment⁹, competition policy and policies on how governments buy goods. Now, members will only negotiate easing trade restrictions in the Doha Round.

Industrial countries also received something in the agreement. Members agreed to create a system for cutting import taxes on industrial goods over time. They also agreed to negotiate decreasing or ending some import taxes.

Members agreed to provide a plan on how they can open their economies to service industries. Each nation must create a plan by May, two thousand five. WTO members also agreed not to ban foreign companies from any service industry. And they agreed to make it easier for their citizens to work in other countries.

The WTO General Council plans to meet again in October.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Bob Doughty.

1 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

2 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

3 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》

4 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

5 negotiate   

v.洽谈，协商，谈判，顺利通过，成功越过

参考例句：

• I'll negotiate with their coach on the date of the match.我将与他们的教练磋商比赛的日期问题。
• I managed to negotiate successfully with the authorities.我设法同当局进行了成功的协商。

6 so-called   

adj.所谓的，号称的

参考例句：

• These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
• Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。

7 easing   

松开，放松

参考例句：

• Eucalyptus oil is good for easing muscular aches and pains. 桉树油可以很好地缓解肌肉的疼痛。
• Everywhere at about the same time the work was easing off. 几乎在同一时候，到处工作都搞完了。 来自英汉文学

8 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

9 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。