2006年VOA标准英语-US House Approves Large Trade Bill for Vietnam,

By Dan Robinson
Washington
09 December 2006

As it nears adjournment² for the year, the House of Representatives has approved a legislative³ trade package that includes a provision establishing Permanent Normal Trade Relations [PNTR] with Vietnam by a vote 212 to 184. VOA's Dan Robinson reports on debate accompanying the legislation which also covers trade issues between the United States and South America, Africa, and Haiti.

In a flurry of last-minute activity, lawmakers needed to pass the huge trade bill which includes approval of normal trade relations with Vietnam, a former enemy which now has two-way trade with the U.S. of about eight billion dollars.

Other provisions extend trade preferences for four Andean countries, and address export issues with sub-Saharan African countries and Haiti.

Vietnam would be exempted⁴ from annual human rights and immigration-related reviews, and make it easier for the U.S. to benefit from lower tariffs⁵ once Vietnam enters the World Trade Organization.

Lawmakers who believe PNTR will in the long-run help rights conditions in Vietnam argued with those opposing it on human rights and economic grounds.

Republican Congressman⁶ David Dreier says the step will not be a panacea⁷ [cure-all], but will promote change. "Normalizing trade with Vietnam is an important step toward enhancing our ability to engage with Vietnam, and encourage continued progress in the areas of economic and political liberalization," he said.

Republican Dana Rohrabacher strongly disagreed. "Until there is some reform that shows they are going in the right direction, it is wrong, morally wrong, for us to extend this PNTR status for this type of dictatorship," he said.

In the Senate, which still must act on the trade bill, Republican Mel Martinez focused on religious freedom. "It would be good for the government of Vietnam to understand that tolerance⁸ as it relates to people's willingness to practice religion as they see fit, it's important to join the family of nations in a full and complete way," he said.

Ohio Democrat⁹ Dennis Kucinich argues that PNTR will subject Vietnam's people to economic difficulties. "It could cause millions of peasants to be thrown off their land as agricultural supports are withdrawn¹⁰. It can cause million of workers to lose their jobs as state enterprises wither¹¹ in the face of foreign competition or downsize and speed up operations in an effort to stay competitive," he said.

There was also strong debate on legislation enabling Haiti to use third-country fabrics¹² for duty-free finished textiles shipped to the U.S.

Democrat Charles Rangel favored it, saying "if there is any country in the world that has suffered it has been the people in Haiti."

But Republican Robin¹ Hayes, from textile-producing North Carolina, argued that any advantages Haiti receives would benefit China.

"This does not help Haitians. This helps the Chinese," he said.

Senate action on the large trade measure would send it to President Bush's desk where he could claim it as a success in a frustrating¹³ year that saw his party lose control of Congress.

The president also expects to be able to sign, after final congressional approval, legislation required as part of steps to implement¹⁴ a civilian¹⁵ nuclear cooperation deal with India.

1 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

2 adjournment   

休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期

参考例句：

• The adjournment of the case lasted for two weeks. 该案休庭期为两周。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case. 律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 exempted   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His bad eyesight exempted him from military service. 他因视力不好而免服兵役。
• Her illness exempted her from the examination. 她因病而免试。

5 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。

6 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

7 panacea   

n.万灵药；治百病的灵药

参考例句：

• Western aid may help but will not be a panacea. 西方援助可能会有所帮助，但并非灵丹妙药。
• There's no single panacea for the country's economic ills. 国家经济弊病百出,并无万灵药可以医治。

8 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

9 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

10 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

11 wither   

vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡

参考例句：

• She grows as a flower does-she will wither without sun.她象鲜花一样成长--没有太阳就会凋谢。
• In autumn the leaves wither and fall off the trees.秋天，树叶枯萎并从树上落下来。

12 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

13 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

15 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。