世贸:标志性贸易协定生效

 　　GENEVA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Director-General announced Wednesday that the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) has entered into force after two thirds of members completed their domestic ratification¹ process.

　　"This morning, I received ratification from Rwanda, Oman, Chad and Jordan, bringing the total number of ratifications² to 112," Roberto Azevedo told a press conference at WTO headquarters in Geneva.

　　"This means we have crossed the required legal threshold of two-thirds of the WTO membership. Therefore I am very happy to announce that the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement has now entered into force," he added.

　　Landmark³ trade agreement enters into force: WTO chief

　　The landmark covenant⁴, which opened for ratification in 2014, seeks to facilitate the movement, release and clearance⁵ of goods across international customs.

　　According to estimates, the full implementation⁶ of the treaty could decrease global trade costs by as much as 14.3 percent.

　　This is of particular significance for developing and least developed countries which typically have to contend with higher levels of trade costs.

　　"It will help these countries to diversify⁷ their trade. Developing countries could increase the number of products they export by 20 percent, while LDCs (Least Developed Countries) could see an increase of up to 35 percent," Azevedo explained.

　　"In addition, developing countries could enter a third more foreign markets on average, while LDCs could access 60 percent more, making these countries less vulnerable to external economic shocks," he added.

　　The cumulative⁸ ramifications⁹ of the TFA are also very promising¹⁰, with experts estimating that the full implementation of the agreement could boost global trade by as much as 1 trillion U.S. dollars per year.

　　According to estimates, the TFA is expected to add 2.7 percentage points per year to world trade growth, and over half a percentage point per year to world GDP growth by 2030.

　　"This impact would be greater than the elimination¹¹ of all existing tariffs¹² around the world," Azevedo highlighted.

　　"The Trade Facilitation Agreement is the biggest reform of global trade this century," he added.

　　In December 2013, WTO members concluded negotiations¹³ on a Trade Facilitation Agreement at the Bali Ministerial Conference, as part of a wider "Bali Package".

　　It is the first multilateral agreement to be reached since the organization came into being over 20 years ago.

1 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。

2 ratifications   

n.正式批准，认可( ratification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The ratifications shall be exchanged in Berlin. 批准将交换在柏林。 来自互联网
• After receiving the required 60 ratifications, the Court came into being on 1 July 20060个国家批准该规约后，法院于2002 年7月1日成立。 来自互联网

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 covenant   

n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约

参考例句：

• They refused to covenant with my father for the property.他们不愿与我父亲订立财产契约。
• The money was given to us by deed of covenant.这笔钱是根据契约书付给我们的。

5 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

8 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。

9 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

11 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

12 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。

13 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。