2005年NPR美国国家公共电台四月-U.S. Seeks to Curb Textile Imports from C

This is Morning Edition from NPR News. I'm Steven S.

The Bush Administration has taken the first step toward curbing¹ imports of low-priced pants, shirts and underwear from China. It's investigating a surge in exports that began January 1st. That's after the expiration² of global quota³ system that limited what various countries could export. NPR's Catheline Shock reports.

The announcement followed the news that apparel imports from China have leapt dramatically. In the first quarter of this year, the Commerce Department says China exported over a thousand percent more cotton trousers, shirts and blouses than in the first quarter of last year. Underwear imports are up sharply as well, "This is exactly what we said was going to happen and it's exactly what has happened. "

Loyd Wood is a spokesman for the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition⁴, which has been begging the government to reimpose quotas⁵ on Chinese textile and apparel imports. The US can do this because China agreed to it back in 2001 when it entered the World Trade Organization. WTO members can clamp down on textile imports from China as a temporary emergency measure when a surge threatens to disrupt markets. Wood says if what's happening now isn't a disruption, he doesn't know what is.

"With China surging over 1,500% in cotton trousers, over 1200% in cotton shirts, over 300% in underwear, these first quarter numbers, I mean, they were just so far beyond the pale that the US government had no choice but to act and you know, initiate⁶ these investigations⁷. Wood is pleased that it did. Brand J is not. She's Washington trade counsel for the US Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel. She says there's no proof that China is causing a market disruption.

"Yes, China increased its trade by the huge amount, but it's still pale in comparison to what we're receiving from a number of western hemisphere supplier countries"

And she says production in Asia may be shifting from neighboring countries to China, but she insists this isn't hurting US workers. The government has 30 days to hear comments and an additional 60 days to make a final decision. It could then restrict imports of Chinese underwear, cotton knit shirts and blouses and cotton trousers, allowing them to climb by only 7.5 % per year. Backers of the safeguards say they could save tens ,even hundreds of thousands of jobs in the US and they could help poor countries around the world that depend on exporting textiles and apparel and are losing market share to China. Critics of the safeguards say they'll raise prices for US consumers and will save few if any American jobs. Some contend that Bush Administration's main motivation is political, a bid to mollify lawmakers skeptical⁸ of its free trade agenda and worried about the growing US trade deficit⁹ with China.
Catheline Shock, NPR News, Washington.

1 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

2 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

3 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

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 quotas   

（正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派

参考例句：

• In fulfilling the production quotas, John made rings round all his fellow workers. 约翰完成生产定额大大超过他的同事们。
• Quotas of the means of production are allocated by the higher administrative bodies to the lower ones. 物资指标按隶属关系分配。

6 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

7 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。