VOA标准英语2009-APEC Foreign Ministers Discourage Protection

By Daniel Schearf
Singapore
11 November 2009

Foreign ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum¹ say they want to discourage trade protectionism. Business leaders at the gathering² endorsed³ that idea and urged more open trade and investment to sustain the global economic recovery. 

 
Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo gestures as he addresses APEC symposium⁴, 10 Nov 2009
Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo says during informal discussions, APEC foreign ministers touched on the financial crisis, economic coordination⁵, and financial reforms. But he says the most important topic on the table was resisting trade protectionism.

"There's creeping protectionism now," he said. "That is very dangerous. It is a slippery slope. And, [if] we're not careful, before we know it all of us will be in a much more dire⁶ situation."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said the foreign ministers also discussed the importance of expanding trade and making it more sustainable and inclusive.

Representatives from the Asia-Pacific business community called on APEC economies to further open trade and investment and resist the urge to erect⁷ trade barriers.

The APEC Business Advisory⁸ Council says the greatest concerns are that rising unemployment and weak demand could lead some governments to introduce protectionist measures and subsidies⁹ that distort trade.

Teng Theng Dar is the council's chairman. He says Asia-Pacific businesses want to see a conclusion next year to the Doha round of world trade negotiations¹⁰, which have been stalled for more than seven years.

"This is a time where [the] business community looks for specific concrete moves by the government so that we are able to build confidence and bring confidence back to the system and at the same time we'll be able to help promote more trade and investment," Teng said. "Trade and investment are key to the recovery of the economy."

The business council says it is also time for start work on setting a timeline for establishing an APEC free trade agreement.

Secretary Clinton says foreign ministers also talked about security issues, including North Korea's nuclear program and the new U.S. policy of dialogue with Burma's military government.

APEC national leaders, including President Barack Obama, will be in Singapore for their annual summit on Sunday. 

Mr. Obama is on his first trip to Asia as president and will hold the first U.S. summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the sidelines of the APEC meetings.

APEC is made up of 21 Pacific Rim¹¹ economies, which account for about half of world trade.

 

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 symposium   

n.讨论会，专题报告会；专题论文集

参考例句：

• What have you learned from the symposium?你参加了这次科学讨论会有什么体会？
• The specialists and scholars present at the symposium come from all corners of the country.出席研讨会的专家学者们来自全国各地。

5 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

6 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

7 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

8 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

9 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。