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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF uplifted its assessment1 for the growth of major economies around the world in 2018, with China up by 0.1% to 6.6%. The forecast for US growth in 2018 is 2.9%, up by 0.6 percent. The forecast for the eurozone is upgraded to 2.4 percent.
The Outlook warned, however, about a more sobering prospect2 in the long term, citing aging populations, falling rates of labor3 force participation4, low productivity growth for developed economies, and a drop in commodity exports for developing economies.
The IMF also warned about financial instability caused by current global debt levels.
IMF Chief Economist5 Maurice Obstfeld."As our new Fiscal6 Monitor documents, global debt levels—both private and public—are historically high, threatening repayment7 problems as monetary8 policies normalize in an environment where many economies face lower medium-term growth rates."
More importantly, Obstfeld cautioned that the recent international trade tensions, started by the United States with its announcement of steel and aluminum9 tariffs10, could undermine global confidence and cause a derailment of growth.
Obstfeld said the public should realize that the reason why some people in developed economies see little benefit from globalization is not because of trade practices, but because of technological11 transformation12.
"These trends are more due to technology change than to trade. Governments need to rise to the challenges of strengthening growth, spreading its benefits more widely, broadening economic opportunity through investments in people, and increasing workers' sense of security in the face of impending13 technological changes that could radically14 transform the nature of work. Fights over trade distract from this vital agenda, rather than advancing it."
Allegedly, the US trade moves are aimed at lowering US trade deficits16 with its trading partners. Obstfeld, on the contrary, said that the US is prescribing the wrong medicine for its trade deficit15 problem and its current actions will only increase the figures.
"These initiatives will do little, however, to change the multilateral or overall US external current account deficit, which owes primarily to a level of aggregate17 US spending that continues to exceed total US income. Recent US fiscal measures will actually widen the US current account deficit."
To boost public confidence and address trade disputes, Obstfeld said national governments should heed18 the rules of international organizations.
"Coping with inequitable trade practices, including intellectual property concerns, requires dependable and fair dispute resolution within a strong rule-based multilateral framework. There's room to strengthen the current system rather than risk bilateral19 fragmentation of international trade. Plurilateral arrangements, if consistent with multilateral rules, can also provide a useful springboard to more open trade."
At a press conference briefing on the recent World Economic Outlook, the IMF also welcomed China's recent financial reforms, saying that further opening up of the Chinese financial market will not only encourage healthy global competition, but also improve the efficiency of the international trade system.
1 assessment | |
n.评价;评估;对财产的估价,被估定的金额 | |
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2 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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3 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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4 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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5 economist | |
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人 | |
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6 fiscal | |
adj.财政的,会计的,国库的,国库岁入的 | |
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7 repayment | |
n.偿还,偿还款;报酬 | |
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8 monetary | |
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的 | |
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9 aluminum | |
n.(aluminium)铝 | |
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10 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 | |
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11 technological | |
adj.技术的;工艺的 | |
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12 transformation | |
n.变化;改造;转变 | |
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13 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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14 radically | |
ad.根本地,本质地 | |
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15 deficit | |
n.亏空,亏损;赤字,逆差 | |
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16 deficits | |
n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 );赤字;亏空;亏损 | |
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17 aggregate | |
adj.总计的,集合的;n.总数;v.合计;集合 | |
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18 heed | |
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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19 bilateral | |
adj.双方的,两边的,两侧的 | |
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