美国国家公共电台 NPR Trump's Conflicts Could Undercut Global Efforts To Fight Corruption, Critics Say

 

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Over the years, the U.S. has played a major role in the movement to stop corruption² and improve government transparency around the world. Now, some transparency advocates worry that the Trump³ administration could undercut that effort. NPR's Jim Zarroli explains.

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UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: His fifth goal of this World Cup.

JIM ZARROLI, BYLINE⁴: When the global governing body for the sport of soccer became mired⁵ in scandal a few years ago, it was the U.S. Justice Department that led the investigation⁶. Alejandro Salas, regional director for the Americas at Transparency International, says Washington has long played an indispensable role in promoting good government practices.

ALEJANDRO SALAS: The United States, being one of the oldest and best established democratic systems with strong institutions, has always been a role model, and has been a very strong ally for the fight against corruption around the world.

ZARROLI: It has done this, he says, in part through strong anti-corruption laws such as the Foreign Corrupt¹ Practices Act, which barred bribery⁷ by multinational⁸ companies. The United States has also actively⁹ promoted democracy around the world. The Virginia-based group Legacy¹⁰ International, for example, has a State Department contract to train young leaders from countries such as Kuwait and Kazakhstan in concepts such as transparency and constituent¹¹ service. Mary Helmig is the group's vice¹² president.

MARY HELMIG: Those are all things that are fledgling in other parts of the world. So we give them a taste of how we do it, the United States. And they take a lot of those practices home and implement¹³ them.

ZARROLI: These efforts benefit the United States, says Georgetown law professor Alvaro Santos. Washington wants to create stable, diplomatic and trading partners in as many places as it can. Santos also says State Department programs have been a lot less important over the years than the example the U.S. has set for other countries.

ALVARO SANTOS: The greatest asset of the United States in terms of influence is basically the model that it has become for the rest of the world.

ZARROLI: Santos notes that in Mexico, there has been a movement to persuade politicians to disclose their financial assets.

SANTOS: And I think the U.S. is in that case held up of the example where politicians routinely disclose their tax returns, for example.

ZARROLI: So, Santos says, President Trump's refusal to disclose his own tax returns is something that can only undercut reform efforts in Mexico. Alejandro Salas of Transparency International notes that even European governments have often followed Washington's lead in fighting corruption. For that reason, he is watching the new administration with some concern. Santos says Trump campaigned by promising¹⁴ to root out corruption. He notes that one of the first bills Trump signed repealed¹⁵ an Obama era rule requiring energy and mining companies to disclose payments they made abroad.

SANTOS: But now by scrapping¹⁶ that, it's lowering the bar in other countries that at some years ago followed the example of the U.S. They will now feel legitimately¹⁷ that they can give also steps back.

ZARROLI: Trump has also held on to a large network of businesses, despite the conflicts of interest they pose. Salas concedes it's early in the administration, but so far he's been disappointed by the tone Trump has set. And he worries about the impact that will have on other countries that look to the United States for the example it sets. Jim Zarroli, NPR News, New York.

1 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

8 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

9 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

10 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

11 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 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。

14 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

15 repealed   

撤销，废除( repeal的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The Labour Party repealed the Act. 工党废除了那项法令。
• The legislature repealed the unpopular Rent Act. 立法机关废除了不得人心的租借法案。

16 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

17 legitimately   

ad.合法地；正当地，合理地

参考例句：

• The radio is legitimately owned by the company. 该电台为这家公司所合法拥有。
• She looked for nothing save what might come legitimately and without the appearance of special favour. 她要的并不是男人们的额外恩赐，而是合法正当地得到的工作。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹