2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Normalizes Ukraine Trade

By Scott Stearns
White House
23 March 2006

President Bush has normalized trade relations with Ukraine, lifting restrictions¹ that were put in place when the nation was part of the former Soviet² Union.

George Bush   
  
President Bush says it is the beginning of a new era in America's relations with Ukraine.

"By eliminating barriers to trade between the United States and Ukraine, the bill will help Ukraine grow in prosperity," he said.  "As we have seen over the past 50 years, trade has the power to create new wealth for whole nations and new opportunities for people around the world."

The president signed into a law a measure permanently³ lifting restrictions that were put in place by the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment⁴, which imposed sanctions on nations that failed to comply with freedom of emigration requirements largely concerning Soviet Jews.

"The law made American trade with communist nations contingent⁵ on those countries' respect for the rights of their own people," he added.  "At the time, the law served an important purpose.  It helped to encourage freedom and the protection of fundamental rights and penalized⁶ nations that denied liberty to their citizens."

With the end of the Cold War, Mr. Bush says Ukraine is now a friend to America and an inspiration to those who love liberty following the 2004 Orange Revolution that brought to power President Viktor Yushchenko.

"The growth of economic freedom and ownership in countries like Ukraine reinforces the habits of liberty and democracy and gives citizens a stake in the success of their nation," he said.  "The Ukrainian people have shown the world they are committed to the ideals of economic freedom and democratic progress and open trade.  And that gives them a promising⁷ future."

President Bush says parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday give Ukrainians a chance to continue to shape their own future. The timing⁸ of this bill signing is meant to help President Yushchenko show voters that his economic reforms are making progress.

Mr. Bush says the measure expands trade by creating new markets for U.S. products and helps Ukraine build a free economy, which he says will raise living standards for Ukrainian families.

"As Ukraine embraces democracy and more open trade, our nations' friendship will grow," he said.  "President Yushchenko has made reforms to increase transparency and provide intellectual property protection and strengthen the enforcement of the rule of law. These reforms have taken great conviction."

Earlier this month, the United States and Ukraine signed a bilateral⁹ agreement establishing the terms of trade once Ukraine is admitted to the World Trade Organization.  Both the European Union and the United States have concluded that Ukraine is a market economy, a decision which removes one of the last obstacles to WTO accession.

President Bush says he will work to remove the remaining WTO obstacles as quickly as possible and supports Ukraine's goal of joining both the European Union and NATO as well.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

6 penalized   

对…予以惩罚( penalize的过去式和过去分词 )； 使处于不利地位

参考例句：

• You will be penalized for poor spelling. 你拼写不好将会受到处罚。
• Team members will be penalized for lateness. 队员迟到要受处罚。

7 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。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。