VOA慢速英语2015 美国参议院就自由贸易协议测试投票失败（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2015-05-14 Free Trade Deal Fails in US Senate Test Vote 美国参议院就自由贸易协议测试投票失败

A proposed 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal has failed in its first major test in the United States Congress. The Senate voted Tuesday against consideration of Trade Promotion Authority, also known as “fast-track” authority. TPA would protect trade agreements with other countries against U.S. congressional interference. Instead, lawmakers could vote only for or against the agreement.

拟议的环太平洋12国协议未能在美国国会通过第一道关卡，参议院周二投票反对考虑贸易促进授权(TPA)，也就是所谓的快速授权。TPA将保护与其他国家签署的贸易协定免受美国国会的干预，议员们只能投票支持或反对协议。

The Senate vote was 52 to 45. It fell short of the three-fifths support needed to begin debate on “fast-track” authority. Most Democratic Party members voted to block debate of the bill. They say the bill does not deal with trade enforcement and reported Chinese efforts to influence the value of China’s money. They also say it fails to meet the needs of displaced American workers.

这次参议院投票结果是52比45，未能达到就快速授权进行辩论所需的五分之三支持率，大多数民主党议员都投票反对就该法案进行辩论，他们说该法案没有涉及贸易执法以及所报道的中国影响货币价值问题，还称该法案未能满足美国失业工人的要求。

Senator Charles Schumer is a New York Democrat. He says Congress needs to help American citizens at a time of increased international competition.

参议员查尔斯·舒默是纽约州民主党议员，他说在这个国际竞争加剧的时候，国会需要帮助美国公民。

“We know the global economy is a rough sea. And Republicans are asking us to pass a trade package that forces the American worker to navigate those waters in a leaky boat. We want to plug up those leaks.”

“我们知道全球经济像是汹涌的大海，共和党要求我们通过一项迫使美国工人乘坐破船来渡海的贸易方案，我们希望堵住船上的漏洞。”

Republican Mitch McConnell is the Senate’s majority leader. He expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the vote. He noted that both Republicans and Democrats supported TPA in a Senate Finance Committee vote last month.

共和党人米奇·麦康奈尔是参议院的多数派领袖，他表示对这次投票结果的不满，他指出，上月共和党和民主党都在参议院金融委员会的投票中支持了TPA。

“There are always limits to what can be accomplished when the American people choose divided government,” he said. “But … it does not mean that” Congress should not work toward solutions that satisfy both parties.

“当美国人选择分治政府时，所能够取得的成就总会有限，但这并不意味着国会不应该努力找到令两党都满意的解决方案来。”

Republican free-trade supporters hope to hold another vote on the issue. They said concerns of the bill’s opponents can be discussed once debate begins again.

支持自由贸易的共和党人希望就该问题进行另一次投票，他们称一旦开始辩论，就可以就该法案反对者的担忧进行讨论。

Senator Orrin Hatch is a Republican from Utah and supporter of “fast-track” authority.

参议员奥林·哈奇是来自犹他州的共和党人，也是快速授权的支持者。

“We’re doing our very best to try and do what the (Obama) administration has wanted in this matter. They are right on it… Ninety-five percent of world trade is outside of our country. I might add that the average wages go up 13 to 18 percent through a trade agreement like this.”

“我们准备尽自己所能在该问题上帮助奥巴马政府，他们是对的，全球95%的贸易在美国之外，我还要说的是，通过这样的贸易协定能使美国的平均工资上涨13%到18%。”

At issue is the ability to finalize a free trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim nations. Those 12 are responsible for 40 percent of the world’s economic production. Five of the countries are in Asia. They are Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The others are Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and the United States.

现在的问题是是否有能力确定环太平洋12国之间的自由贸易协定，这12个国家的经济产能占全世界经济产出的40%。其中5个国家属于亚洲，分别是文莱、日本、马来西亚、新加坡和越南，其他国家包括澳大利亚、加拿大、智利、墨西哥、新西兰、秘鲁和美国。

The effect of trade on American jobs makes the issue a difficult one for U.S. lawmakers. The vote on Tuesday was far from the end of debate in Congress. Most free-trade Senate Democrats say they hope to reach an agreement with the Republicans. They hope this will lead to a debate on TPA and the trade agreements it could help shape in the future.

贸易对美国就业的影响使得该问题让美国议员们为难，周二的投票远未能结束国会的投票。大多数支持自由贸易的参议院民主党称他们希望与共和党达成协议，希望这将促进就TPA的辩论，并希望这些贸易协定能有助于塑造未来。

Words in This Story

enforcement – n. making a law or agreement effective

global – adj. involving the world; international

rough – adj. difficult; opposite of smooth or soft

finalize – v. to make something in a final or finished form