新奇事件簿 美元地位岌岌可危

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested that the U.S. dollar could be losing its status as the world's most important currency. Mr Lavrov said that because the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on countries like Iran, Turkey and Russia, these countries could start conducting international business in their own national currencies instead of the dollar. In addition, countries that have had trade tariffs¹ imposed on them by the U.S. could also do trade in their own currencies. This could include the global economic superpower China ditching the dollar. China is already setting up trade deals in its own currency. Experts say the U.S. dollar could lose its position as the international reserve currency.

俄罗斯外交部长谢尔盖·拉夫罗夫认为美元可能会失去其作为世界最重要货币的地位。拉夫罗夫表示因为美国对伊朗、土耳其和俄罗斯等国实施经济制裁，这些国家可以用本国货币代替美元开展国际业务。此外，那些被美国征收贸易关税的国家也可以用本国货币进行贸易。其中就包括抛弃美元的全球经济大国中国。中国已经用本国货币签署贸易协议了。专家表示美元或会失去其作为国际储备货币的地位。

The U.S. dollar replaced the British pound as the international reserve currency in the 1920s. Since then, most international trade has taken place using the dollar. Today, when China buys oil from Iran, it pays in U.S. dollars. This means more U.S. dollars flow out of the U.S. than flow in. The effect of this is the U.S. has a currency deficit² as its dollars are in the bank accounts of other countries. Mr Lavrov said: "I'm confident that the grave abuse of the role of the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency will result over time in the weakening and demise³ of its role." China's currency the yuan is emerging as an alternative trading currency. Africa's most populous⁴ nation Nigeria has already started trading using the yuan.

二十世纪二十年代，美元取代英镑成为国际储备货币。自那时起，大部分国际贸易都以美元展开。而今，当中国从伊朗购买石油时，其支付的是美元。这意味着从美国流出的美元比流入美国的美元多。其后果是—由于美元在其他国家的银行账户上，美国出现货币赤字。拉夫罗夫说道：“我确信美元滥用其作为国际储备货币的角色将会慢慢削弱其地位，最终被取代。”中国货币‘元’正成为一种新兴的可替代贸易货币出现。非洲人口最多的国家尼日利亚已经开始用‘元’进行贸易。

 

1 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。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

4 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。