2019年经济学人 美国的大规模干扰性武器(4)

美国的大规模干扰性武器(4)

The damage to America’s economy so far has been deceptively small. Tariffs¹ cause agony in export hubs such as northern Mexico, but even if Mr Trump² imposes all his threatened tariffs, the tax on imports would be worth only about 1% of America’s GDP. His poll ratings at home have held up, even as they have slumped³ abroad. His officials believe the experiment in weaponising America’s economic network has only just begun.

到目前为止，美国经济受到的损害看起来很小。关税让墨西哥北部等出口中心倍感头痛，但即使特朗普将所有可能征收的关税都强加于人，进口关税也只相当于美国GDP的1%左右。他在国内的民调支持率一直居高不下，而在国外却一落千丈。其官员认为，将美国经济全球化网络武器化的实验才刚刚开始。

In fact, the bill is mounting. America could have built a global coalition⁴ to press China to reform its economy, but it has now squandered⁵ precious goodwill⁶. Allies looking for new trade deals with America, including post-Brexit Britain, will worry that a presidential tweet could scupper it after it has been signed. Retaliation⁷ in kind has begun. China has begun its own blacklist of foreign firms. And the risk of a clumsy mistake that triggers a financial panic is high. Imagine if America banned the $1trn of Chinese shares trading in New York, or cut off foreign banks.

事实上，该法案还在增加。美国本可以建立一个全球联盟，敦促中国改革经济，但现在却浪费了宝贵的善意。寻求与美国达成新贸易协议的盟友，包括脱欧后的英国，将担心签署协议后总统的一条推文就会破坏协议。以牙还牙的反击已经开始。中国已经开始将外国公司列入黑名单。而且，一个笨拙的错误引发金融恐慌的风险很高。想象一下，如果美国禁止价值1万亿美元的中国股票在纽约交易，或者切断外国银行的业务。

In the long run the American-led network is under threat. There are hints of mutiny—of America’s 35 European and Asian military allies, only three have so far agreed to ban Huawei. Efforts to build a rival global infrastructure⁸ will accelerate. China is creating its own courts to adjudicate commercial disputes with foreigners. Europe is experimenting with building a new payments system to get round the Iran sanctions, which could in time be used elsewhere. China, and eventually India, will be keen to end their dependence⁹ on semiconductors¹⁰ from Silicon¹¹ Valley. Mr Trump is right that America’s network gives it vast power. It will take decades, and cost a fortune, to replace it. But if you abuse it, ultimately you will lose it.

从长远来看，美国主导的网络受到了威胁。有迹象表明，美国在欧洲和亚洲的35个军事盟友中，到目前为止只有3个同意禁止华为。建立一个有竞争力的全球基础设施的努力将会加速。中国正在建立自己的法院来裁决与外国人的商业纠纷。欧洲正在试验建立一套新的支付体系，以绕过对伊朗的制裁，这些制裁迟早会被用于其他地方。中国，最终还有印度，都渴望结束对硅谷半导体的依赖。特朗普说得对，全球化网络赋予美国巨大的权力。要想取代它，将需要几十年的时间，而且要投入大笔资金。但如果滥用，最终会失去。

1 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。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 squandered   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
• She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气，好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘（部分）

6 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

7 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

10 semiconductors   

n.半导体( semiconductor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Crystals may be insulators, semiconductors, or conductors. 晶体可以是绝缘体，半导体，或导体。 来自辞典例句
• Semiconductors containing such impurities are called p-type semiconductors. 含有这类杂质的半导体叫做P型半导体。 来自辞典例句

11 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。