VOA慢速英语2018 美国关税引发与美国盟友贸易战的担忧（在线收听）

US Tariffs Raise Fears of Trade War with American Allies

The United States says it will require tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Europe, Mexico and Canada.

美国表示将对从欧洲、墨西哥和加拿大进口的钢铁和铝材征收关税。

U.S. officials announced the tariffs are a result of their failure to win trade concessions. Officials said the import taxes would take effect on Friday.

美国官员宣布这些关税是因为他们未能获得贸易让步的结果。有关官员表示，这些进口关税将于周五生效。

The announcement led to promises of action from major American allies, rising trade tensions and a drop in stock prices.

这一消息导致美国的主要盟国许诺要采取行动，加剧了贸易紧张局势，股价有所下跌。

President Donald Trump had announced the tariffs in March. Trump said they were needed to protect the United States from unfair competition. But he delayed the measure to give time for negotiations.

川普总统在三月宣布了这些关税。川普声称他们需要防止美国遭受不公平竞争。但是他推迟了这项措施以留下谈判的时间。

The tariffs will be 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

对进口钢铁的关税将为25%，对铝材的关税将为10%。

Europe and Mexico reacted to the U.S. move with their own lists of tariffs on American products, raising fears of a trade war among allies.

欧洲和墨西哥提出了对美国产品的关税清单，以此对美国的举动做出反应。这引发了盟国之间发生贸易战的担忧。

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, called the U.S. decision “protectionism, pure and simple.”

欧盟委员会主席容克称美国的决定是“纯粹和简单的贸易保护主义。”

Last March, the European Union prepared a list of possible tariffs on American goods, including orange juice, peanut butter, clothing, whiskey, boats and motorcycles.

3月，欧盟编制了对美国商品可能征收关税的清单，其中包括橙汁、花生酱、服装、威士忌、船舶和摩托车。

Mexico said it would tax a number of U.S. imports, including pork bellies, apples, grapes, cheeses and flat steel.

墨西哥表示，将对一些美国产品征收关税，包括猪肚、苹果、葡萄、奶酪和扁钢。

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the U.S. tariffs “totally unacceptable.”

加拿大总理特鲁多称美国的关税“完全无法接受。”

Trudeau said Canada supplied “aluminum and steel to the U.S. defense industry, putting aluminum in American planes and steel in American tanks.” He promised to add Canadian tariffs on a number of American goods.

特鲁多表示，加拿大向美国的国防工业提供铝和钢，将铝用于美国飞机，将钢用于美国坦克上。他许诺要向一些美国产品征收关税。

Brazil, Argentina and Australia have agreed to limit steel shipments to the U.S. to avoid tariffs. But import taxes remain on steel and aluminum imports from Japan.

巴西、阿根廷和澳大利亚已经同意限制对美国钢铁出口以避免关税。但是从日本的钢铁和铝材仍然面临着关税。

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross spoke to reporters on Thursday. He said that talks with Canada and Mexico over amending the North American Free Trade Agreement were “taking longer than we had hoped.”

美国商务部长罗斯周四对记者发表了讲话。他说，与加拿大和墨西哥就修改北美自由贸易协定的谈判“花费的时间超过了我们的预期。”

Speaking from a meeting in Paris, Ross noted that talks with Europe had “made some progress,” but not enough for the U.S. He said, “We continue to be quite willing and indeed eager to have further discussions.”

罗斯在巴黎召开的会议上指出，与欧洲的谈判已经取得了一些进展，但是对美国来说还不够。他说：“我们一直非常愿意并且渴望进一步讨论。”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed opposition to the rising trade tensions before the U.S. announcement. She said the tariffs were in violation of the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

德国总理默克尔在美国公布之前对贸易紧张局势加剧表示了反对。她说，这些关税违反了世贸组织的规定。

After the U.S. action, the European Union announced plans to bring its case against the U.S. tariffs to the WTO on Friday.

在美国采取行动之后，欧盟宣布计划于周五在世贸组织对美国的关税提出上诉。

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire criticized the tariffs. He said they “will only lead to the victory of those who want less growth, those who don’t think we can develop our economies across the world.”

法国财政部长勒梅尔也批评这些关税。他说，这只会让那些希望经济增长缩水，那些认为我们不能在世界各地发展我们经济的人获胜。

Even some of Trump’s supporters criticized the measures.

即使是川普的支持者也对此提出了批评。

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch said, “Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are a tax hike on Americans.” He added that it would hurt both workers and businesses. Like Trump, Hatch is a member of the Republican Party.

美国参议员奥林·哈奇（Orrin Hatch）表示：“对钢铁和铝材征收关税是对美国人民加税。”他补充说，这会同时伤害到企业和员工。哈奇跟川普一样是共和党员。

The groups Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity said the tariffs would hurt the nation’s economy and low unemployment rates.

自由贸易伙伴商会以及美国繁荣委员会等组织表示，这些关税将会损害美国的经济和低失业率。

U.S. presidential spokesman Raj Shah told Fox News: “The president’s actions are about protecting American steel, American aluminum. They’re critical for national security.”

美国总统发言人拉吉·沙赫（Raj Shah）对福克斯新闻表示：“川普总统此举是为了保护美国钢铁和铝材，它们对美国国家安全至关重要。”

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

tariff - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

concession - n. something that you give up to reach an agreement

whiskey - n. a strong alcoholic drink made from grain

motorcycle - n. a vehicle with two wheels powered by a motor

pork bellies - n. are the cut of pork that comes from the belly of a pig

hike - n. a sudden increase