VOA标准英语2008年-WTO, India Push for Resumption of Global Trade

The head of the World Trade Organization is in India, before heading to the United States, in an effort to try to revive failed global trade talks. As VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi, Indian trade officials are giving no indication they will be the first to budge¹, saying emergency protection for their country's farmers is paramount².

The World Trade Organization's director general met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, other government leaders and top corporate³ executives. Pascal Lamy is trying to achieve what he admits will be a difficult goal: reviving, before the end of the year, the collapsed⁴ global trade talks.

Last month, ministerial talks failed in Geneva, after 16 out of 20 items being considered were resolved. India and the United States failed to find common ground on number 17, known as the "special safeguard mechanism⁵." It would allow developing countries to impose emergency tariffs⁶ if they experienced an unexpected surge of agricultural imports
　
India Commerce Minister Kamal Nath

India Commerce Minister Kamal Nath says a too-high trigger for imposing⁷ the emergency tariffs is an unacceptable and fatal flaw.

"If you say 40 percent import surge, my farmers would have committed suicide by then," Nath said.

Agriculture is India's largest economic sector⁸. But during a time of crop failures, falling prices for commodities, and lack of affordable⁹ credit, thousands of Indian farmers have reportedly committed suicide. The crisis has become politically sensitive in Indian agriculture.

During a joint¹⁰ appearances with Lamy in New Delhi, the commerce minister praised the WTO leader as a "great friend of India" who is "absolutely impartial¹¹."
　
WTO Director General Pascal Lamy and Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath converse¹² at a development conference in New Delhi

Lamy, speaking to chief executives of some of India's biggest corporations, said he is expressing a common message to Indian and American government leaders.

"Try to understand each other a bit more, at the political level, because this is a political discussion that has to translate into a technical discussion, not the other way around," Lamy said.

Lamy heads to Washington next week for discussions with American trade officials.

During an earlier joint appearance with Lamy, the Indian trade minister told an audience of foreign ambassadors at a development conference that New Delhi is not opposed to a successful conclusion of the global trade talks, known as the Doha Round.

"I would like to really tell all the diplomats¹³ here to tell your capitals that India is committed to the multi-lateral system. We want to have this round," Nath said. "But when we resume, which we must resume, I would only urge all of you to come to the table not looking for what you can get, but for what you can give."

The talks began seven years ago with the goal of allowing developing countries to benefit from a more-open trading system. The WTO says if global import tariffs can be cut in half, the world would recognize a savings¹⁴ of $150 billion a year.

American trade officials have objected to the current proposals from India and other countries, saying they would limit market openings and actually raise new barriers to trade.

 

1 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

2 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

3 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

6 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。

7 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

11 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

12 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

13 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。