VOA标准英语2008年-WTO's Lamy: Global Trade Deal Possible

The head of the World Trade Organization says chances of making a trade deal at a crucial round of negotiations¹ on global trade next week have recently improved. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports for VOA.
　
Pascal Lamy, Director-General of WTO, attends an international conference on food supplies held at European Parliament in Brussels (File)

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said the chances of success for reaching a world-trade agreement have increased as a result of talks before trade ministers meet next week in Geneva.

Lamy made the remark while presenting a WTO report in advance of the meeting in which ministers will decide the fate of the World Trade Organization's Doha Round of free-trade talks.

Lamy said that an agreement is even more important given the "dire²" state of the world economy.

After seven years of negotiations, the director-general acknowledges the round has reached a decisive phase.

"What members achieve together next week will be judged as an indicator³ of the international community's willingness and ability to sharing the management of globalization in an effective and equitable⁴ manner," he said.

Lamy said that reaching a trade deal is key, but the world economy could overshadow an agreement. He said that economic research indicted⁵ that a Doha deal could boost the world economy by nearly $50 billion a year.

But Lamy said recent surveys on globalization show most countries are tentative about international trade benefiting their countries.

"Recent surveys on globalization in almost 50 developing and developed countries show that large majorities of people continue to believe that international trade benefits their countries, but accompanying this belief are fears about the disruptions, about the downsides of participating in the global economy, be it job loss, inequality or increased marginalization," said Lamy.

The WTO report said that in some countries specialization in agriculture and industry had lead to increased income. Both consumers and producers have benefited from a wider choice of products at lower prices, it said.

But it added other countries have not shared as much in these gains as a result of trade costs such as tariffs⁶, non-tariff barriers, transportation, communication, and insurance.

　

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

4 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

5 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

6 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。