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美国对中国大幅提高关税
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现在尽管乔·拜登宣布的新措施涉及大幅提高关税,但没有引起那么多恐慌,这就是华盛顿的保护主义情绪。
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双语精读
Just over six years ago, when Donald Trump first announced tariffs on Chinese goods, it was as if a bomb had gone off. American stocks fell sharply at the prospect of a trade war, businesses warned of blowback and economists lined up to decry the move.
就在六年多前,当唐纳德·特朗普首次宣布对中国商品征收关税时,就像炸弹爆炸了一样。美国股市因贸易战的前景而大幅下挫,企业警告关税可能适得其反,经济学家一致谴责这一举措。
Such is the protectionist mood in Washington now that Joe Biden's announcement of new measures has been met with rather less panic -- even though it concerns significantly higher tariffs.
现在尽管乔·拜登宣布的新措施涉及大幅提高关税,但没有引起那么多恐慌,这就是华盛顿的保护主义情绪。
On May 14th, following a policy review, the White House decided to raise tariffs on, among other things, Chinese semiconductors and solar cells from 25% to 50%, syringes and needles from 0% to 50% and lithium-ion batteries from 7.5% to 25%.
5月14日在政策复审之后,白宫决定将对中国的许多产品提高关税,其中包括半导体和太阳能电池的关税从25%提高到50%,注射器和针头的关税从0%提高到50%,锂离子电池的关税从7.5%提高到25%。
It hit electric vehicles (EVs) with the biggest increase of all, quadrupling the tariff rate on China-made EVs from 25% to 100%.
电动汽车的关税增幅是最大的,将中国制造的电动汽车的关税从25%提高到100%,翻了两番。
Lael Brainard of the National Economic Council said the actions would create "a level playing field in industries that are vital to our future". Yet it is American consumers who will pay the price.
国家经济委员会的莱尔·布雷纳德表示,这些行动将为“那些对美国的未来至关重要的行业创造一个公平竞争的环境”。然而,付出代价的将是美国消费者。
Relative to Mr Trump's China tariffs, the new levies are both more targeted and more dramatic.
相比于特朗普的中国关税,新的关税既更有针对性,力度也更强。
Mr Trump's tariffs in time sprawled to cover over 18bn-worth of imports, though at far more prohibitive rates.
当初特朗普的关税逐步扩大到涵盖从中国进口的价值超过3500亿美元的商品,其中大部分税率为25%。现在拜登的关税涵盖价值约180亿美元的进口商品,尽管税率要高得多。
The impact is thus not on current trade flows, but on future potential. For example, in Europe, where China-made cars (including Western brands) face a more modest tariff of 10%, they have taken nearly a quarter of the EV market.
因此,拜登关税影响的不是当前的贸易流动,而是未来的潜在贸易。例如,在欧洲,中国制造的汽车(包括西方品牌的汽车)关税为较低的10%,占据了欧洲电动汽车市场近四分之一的份额。
In America, by contrast, there are few Chinese-made EVs on the road. Owing to the new ultra-high tariffs, it will surely stay that way.
相比之下,在美国,路上很少有中国制造的电动汽车。由于新的超高关税,这种情况肯定会持续下去。
Within America, the tariffs are aimed at protecting nascent industries rather than large, thriving ones. Under Mr Biden, the American government is spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build up domestic EV manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries and more.
在美国国内,这些关税的目的是保护新兴产业,而不是大型、蓬勃发展的产业。在拜登的领导下,美国政府正在投入数千亿美元来建立国内的电动汽车制造业、半导体、电池等产业。
This has prompted a boom in factory construction, including in America's rust belt, but it will be another few years before production lines really kick into gear. The aim is for the new tariffs to buy them time.
这带来了工厂建设的热潮,包括在美国的铁锈带,但生产线真正投入使用还需要几年时间。新关税的目的是为这些产业争取时间。
Heftier import taxes on Chinese products will push up prices for American consumers. The immediate effect will be limited, as so much trade in tariff-hit categories has already shifted away from China.
对中国产品征收更高的进口税将推高美国消费者要支付的价格。这对当前造成的影响是有限的,因为受关税冲击的产品类别的许多贸易已经从中国转移到其他国家了。
But domestic producers may feel less of an incentive to develop cheap goods in the long term, knowing that they are shielded from foreign competition.
但从长远来看,国内生产商可能不那么有动力去开发廉价商品,因为他们知道自己不受外国竞争的影响。
The tariffs also represent a lost opportunity for the environment. Lower prices for EVs, solar panels and batteries would have boosted their appeal to consumers, as is essential if America is to green its economy.
这些关税也代表着环境保护方面失去的机会。电动汽车、太阳能电池板和电池的价格降低本可以提高它们对消费者的吸引力,如果美国要实现绿色经济,这是至关重要的。
词汇预习
current [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrənt] | 英[ˈkʌrənt]
n. 趋势;(水、气、电)流 adj. 现在的;流通的
economy [高考]
美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]
n. 经济;节约 adj. 经济的;廉价的
essential [高考]
美[ɪˈsenʃl] | 英[ɪˈsenʃl]
adj. 本质的;必要的;重要的 n. 要素;必需品
immediate [高考]
美[ɪˈmiːdiət] | 英[ɪˈmiːdiət]
adj. 直接的;最接近的;立即的;目前的
impact [高考]
美[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt] | 英[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt]
n. 影响;冲击力;撞击 vt. 挤入;压紧;撞击;对 ... 发生影响 vi. 冲击;撞击;产生影响
contrast [高考]
美[ˈkɑːntræst , kənˈtræst] | 英[ˈkɒntrɑːst , kənˈtrɑːst]
n. 对比;差别;对照物 v. 对比;成对照 n. [计算机] 反差
sharply [高考]
美[ˈʃɑrpli] | 英[ˈʃɑ:pli]
adv. 锐利地;严厉地;厉害地;轮廓清晰、线条分明地
significantly [高考]
美[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli] | 英[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli]
adv. 意味深长地;意义深远地;重要地;较大地
dramatic [高考]
美[drəˈmætɪk] | 英[drəˈmætɪk]
adj. 戏剧性的;引人注目的;给人深刻印象的;激动人心的
incentive [高考]
美[ɪnˈsentɪv] | 英[ɪnˈsentɪv]
adj. 刺激的;鼓励的 n. 刺激;鼓励;动机
gear [高考]
美[ɡɪr] | 英[ɡɪə(r)]
n. 传动装置;齿轮;排挡;工具;装备 v. 调整;使适应于;以齿轮连起
announcement [高考]
美[əˈnaʊnsmənt] | 英[əˈnaʊnsmənt]
n. 通告;宣布;声明
rust [高考]
美[rʌst] | 英[rʌst]
n. 铁锈;锈菌;赤褐色 vi. 生锈;变成锈色 vt. 使 ... 生锈;损害
potential [高考]
美[pəˈtenʃl] | 英[pəˈtenʃl]
adj. 潜在的;可能的 n. 潜力;潜能 n. 电位;电势
rate [高考]
美[reɪt] | 英[reɪt]
n. 比率;速度;价格;费用;等级 v. 认为;估价;定等级;值得;怒斥;责骂
thus [高考]
美[ðʌs] | 英[ðʌs]
adv. 这样;如此;因此;从而
appeal [高考]
美[əˈpiːl] | 英[əˈpiːl]
n. 恳求;呼吁;上诉;吸引力 n. (体育比赛中)诉请裁决 v. 呼吁;有吸引力;求助;诉请
vital [高考]
美[ˈvaɪtl] | 英[ˈvaɪtl]
adj. 至关重要的;有活力的;生死攸关的
construction [高考]
美[kənˈstrʌkʃn] | 英[kənˈstrʌkʃn]
n. 建设;结构;建筑物;建造;构造;解释
panic [高考]
美[ˈpænɪk] | 英[ˈpænɪk]
n. 惊慌;恐慌 v. 使…惊慌;感到恐慌 adj. 恐慌的;惊慌的
boom [高考]
美[buːm] | 英[buːm]
n. 繁荣;兴旺;激增;低沉声 n. 帆杠;吊杆;支臂;尾桁;水栅 vi. 急速增长;发出低沉声 vt. 使兴旺;促进
bomb [高考]
美[bɑːm] | 英[bɒm]
n. 炸弹 vt. 轰炸;投弹于 vi. 投弹;失败
appeal to [高考]
美[əˈpiːl tu] | 英[əˈpiːl tu]
对 ... 产生吸引力; 呼吁; 恳求; 申诉
limited [高考]
美[ˈlɪmɪtɪd] | 英[ˈlɪmɪtɪd]
adj. 有限的;被限制的
domestic [高考]
美[dəˈmestɪk] | 英[dəˈmestɪk]
adj. 家庭的;国内的;驯养的 n. 佣人;家仆
prospect [高考]
美[ˈprɑːspekt] | 英[ˈprɒspekt , prəˈspekt]
n. 希望;前景;景色 v. 勘探;寻找
where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里;在那个地方 conj. 在 ... 地方
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将;可能;大概;总会;愿意;will的过去式
up to [四级]
美[ʌp tu] | 英[ʌp tu]
胜任;直到;多达;该由 ... 决定
trade in [四级]
美[treid ɪn] | 英[treid in]
以旧换新; 买卖
on the road [四级]
美[ɑn ði rəʊd] | 英[ɔn ðə roʊd]
在旅途中
ion [六级]
美[ˈaɪən] | 英[ˈaɪən]
n. 离子
vital to [六级]
美 | 英
adj. 所不可缺少的对
manufacturing [专四]
美[ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərɪŋ] | 英[ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ]
n. 制造业 adj. 制造业的
decided [专四]
美[dɪˈsaɪdɪd] | 英[dɪˈsaɪdɪd]
adj. 确定的;坚决的
tariff [专四]
美[ˈtærɪf] | 英[ˈtærɪf]
n. 关税;价目表 vt. 交关税
fell [专四]
美[fel] | 英[fel]
vt. 砍伐;击倒 n. 丘原;沼泽地 adj. 凶残的;毁灭性的
decry [专八]
美[dɪˈkraɪ] | 英[dɪˈkraɪ]
v. 责难;诽谤
following [考研]
美[ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ] | 英[ˈfɒləʊɪŋ]
adj. 接着的;下列的 prep. 在 ... 以后 n. 追随者;下列各项
protectionist [托福]
美[prə'tekʃənɪst] | 英[prə'tekʃənɪst]
n. 保护贸易论者 adj. 保护贸易论的
prohibitive [托福]
美[prəˈhɪbətɪv] | 英[prəˈhɪbətɪv]
adj. 禁止的;抑制的;(价格等)过高的
nascent [托福]
美[ˈnæsənt, ˈnesənt] | 英[ˈnæsnt]
adj. 新生的;尚不成熟的;尚不发达的
重点讲解
Just over six years ago, when Donald Trump first announced tariffs on Chinese goods, it was as if a bomb had gone off. American stocks fell sharply at the prospect of a trade war, businesses warned of blowback and economists lined up to decry the move.
就在六年多前,当唐纳德·特朗普首次宣布对中国商品征收关税时,就像炸弹爆炸了一样。美国股市因贸易战的前景而大幅下挫,企业警告关税可能适得其反,经济学家一致谴责这一举措。
go off
1. 开火;爆炸
【例】The gun/fireworks went off.
开枪了/放烟花了。
2. 警报响
【例】The smoke alarm went off when I was cooking.
我做饭的时候烟雾报警器响了。
【近义词】set off 爆炸;警报响起
3.熄灭;中断
【例】The lights/heating went off.
灯灭了/暖气停了。
【近义词】go out 熄灭
blowback n. 违背初衷的结果;意外的坏效果
【例】The market campaign caused a blowback and the sales dropped.
市场营销活动起了反作用,销量下降了。
【拓展】backfire v. 产生意外的反作用
【辨析】backlash n. 强烈反对;强烈抵制
Such is the protectionist mood in Washington now that Joe Biden's announcement of new measures has been met with rather less panic -- even though it concerns significantly higher tariffs.
现在尽管乔·拜登宣布的新措施涉及大幅提高关税,但没有引起那么多恐慌,这就是华盛顿的保护主义情绪。
be met with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was met with howls of protest.
他的建议引起了一阵阵的抗议声。
【近义词】be received with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was received with approval.
他的建议得到了认可。
On May 14th, following a policy review, the White House decided to raise tariffs on, among other things, Chinese semiconductors and solar cells from 25% to 50%, syringes and needles from 0% to 50% and lithium-ion batteries from 7.5% to 25%.
5月14日在政策复审之后,白宫决定将对中国的许多产品提高关税,其中包括半导体和太阳能电池的关税从25%提高到50%,注射器和针头的关税从0%提高到50%,锂离子电池的关税从7.5%提高到25%。
be met with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was met with howls of protest.
他的建议引起了一阵阵的抗议声。
【近义词】be received with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was received with approval.
他的建议得到了认可。
It hit electric vehicles (EVs) with the biggest increase of all, quadrupling the tariff rate on China-made EVs from 25% to 100%.
电动汽车的关税增幅是最大的,将中国制造的电动汽车的关税从25%提高到100%,翻了两番。
be met with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was met with howls of protest.
他的建议引起了一阵阵的抗议声。
【近义词】be received with 引发某种反应
【例】His suggestion was received with approval.
他的建议得到了认可。
Lael Brainard of the National Economic Council said the actions would create “a level playing field in industries that are vital to our future”. Yet it is American consumers who will pay the price.
国家经济委员会的莱尔·布雷纳德表示,这些行动将为“那些对美国的未来至关重要的行业创造一个公平竞争的环境”。然而,付出代价的将是美国消费者。
a level playing field 公平的竞争环境;人人机会平等
【例】All the candidates should be given a level playing field during the selection process.
在选拔过程中,所有候选人都应该有一个公平的竞争环境。
【近义词】to level the playing field
创造平等竞争环境
【拓展】to keep supply level with demand
让供给与需求达到相同水平
levy n. & v.
1. 作名词:税款
【例】to impose a levy on oil imports
对进口石油征税
2. 作动词:征税
【例】to levy a tax on oil imports
对进口石油征收税款
to levy a $1000 fine on air polluters
对造成空气污染的主体征收1000美元罚款
Relative to Mr Trump's China tariffs, the new levies are both more targeted and more dramatic.
相比于特朗普的中国关税,新的关税既更有针对性,力度也更强。
a level playing field 公平的竞争环境;人人机会平等
【例】All the candidates should be given a level playing field during the selection process.
在选拔过程中,所有候选人都应该有一个公平的竞争环境。
【近义词】to level the playing field
创造平等竞争环境
【拓展】to keep supply level with demand
让供给与需求达到相同水平
levy n. & v.
1. 作名词:税款
【例】to impose a levy on oil imports
对进口石油征税
2. 作动词:征税
【例】to levy a tax on oil imports
对进口石油征收税款
to levy a $1000 fine on air polluters
对造成空气污染的主体征收1000美元罚款
Mr Trump's tariffs in time sprawled to cover over 18bn-worth of imports, though at far more prohibitive rates.
当初特朗普的关税逐步扩大到涵盖从中国进口的价值超过3500亿美元的商品,其中大部分税率为25%。现在拜登的关税涵盖价值约180亿美元的进口商品,尽管税率要高得多。
prohibitive adj.
1. 高昂得令人难以承受
【例】prohibitive costs/prices 高昂的成本/价格
【近义词】eye-watering adj. 高得令人流泪的
2. 禁止性的
【例】prohibitive rules/conditions
禁止性规定/限制性条件
【拓展】prohibit v. 禁止
modest adj. 不多的;适中的
【例】a modest house 简朴的房子
to play a modest role 作用不大
to make modest improvements 取得不太显著的改进
The impact is thus not on current trade flows, but on future potential. For example, in Europe, where China-made cars (including Western brands) face a more modest tariff of 10%, they have taken nearly a quarter of the EV market.
因此,拜登关税影响的不是当前的贸易流动,而是未来的潜在贸易。例如,在欧洲,中国制造的汽车(包括西方品牌的汽车)关税为较低的10%,占据了欧洲电动汽车市场近四分之一的份额。
prohibitive adj.
1. 高昂得令人难以承受
【例】prohibitive costs/prices 高昂的成本/价格
【近义词】eye-watering adj. 高得令人流泪的
2. 禁止性的
【例】prohibitive rules/conditions
禁止性规定/限制性条件
【拓展】prohibit v. 禁止
modest adj. 不多的;适中的
【例】a modest house 简朴的房子
to play a modest role 作用不大
to make modest improvements 取得不太显著的改进
In America, by contrast, there are few Chinese-made EVs on the road. Owing to the new ultra-high tariffs, it will surely stay that way.
相比之下,在美国,路上很少有中国制造的电动汽车。由于新的超高关税,这种情况肯定会持续下去。
prohibitive adj.
1. 高昂得令人难以承受
【例】prohibitive costs/prices 高昂的成本/价格
【近义词】eye-watering adj. 高得令人流泪的
2. 禁止性的
【例】prohibitive rules/conditions
禁止性规定/限制性条件
【拓展】prohibit v. 禁止
modest adj. 不多的;适中的
【例】a modest house 简朴的房子
to play a modest role 作用不大
to make modest improvements 取得不太显著的改进
Within America, the tariffs are aimed at protecting nascent industries rather than large, thriving ones. Under Mr Biden, the American government is spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build up domestic EV manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries and more.
在美国国内,这些关税的目的是保护新兴产业,而不是大型、蓬勃发展的产业。在拜登的领导下,美国政府正在投入数千亿美元来建立国内的电动汽车制造业、半导体、电池等产业。
nascent adj. 新兴的;新生的
【例】the nascent technology 新兴技术
【近义词】emerging/fledgling/budding adj. 新兴的
【反义词】mature/established/full-fledged adj. 成熟的
kick into gear 进入工作状态;开始运作
【例】I need two cups of coffee in the morning to really kick into gear.
我早上需要两杯咖啡才能真正进入状态。
【拓展】kick in 生效
【例】Reforms will kick in later this year.
改革将于今年下半年开始见效。
This has prompted a boom in factory construction, including in America's rust belt, but it will be another few years before production lines really kick into gear. The aim is for the new tariffs to buy them time.
这带来了工厂建设的热潮,包括在美国的铁锈带,但生产线真正投入使用还需要几年时间。新关税的目的是为这些产业争取时间。
nascent adj. 新兴的;新生的
【例】the nascent technology 新兴技术
【近义词】emerging/fledgling/budding adj. 新兴的
【反义词】mature/established/full-fledged adj. 成熟的
kick into gear 进入工作状态;开始运作
【例】I need two cups of coffee in the morning to really kick into gear.
我早上需要两杯咖啡才能真正进入状态。
【拓展】kick in 生效
【例】Reforms will kick in later this year.
改革将于今年下半年开始见效。
Heftier import taxes on Chinese products will push up prices for American consumers. The immediate effect will be limited, as so much trade in tariff-hit categories has already shifted away from China.
对中国产品征收更高的进口税将推高美国消费者要支付的价格。这对当前造成的影响是有限的,因为受关税冲击的产品类别的许多贸易已经从中国转移到其他国家了。
immediate adj. 当前的;紧接着的
【例】the immediate concern 当务之急
the immediate future 短期内
She is out of immediate danger.
她眼下已经脱离危险。
be shielded from 被保护不受……影响
【例】The town was shielded from flood by the dam.
堤坝保护小镇不被洪水淹没
【近义词】be protected/insulated from 免受……的影响
appeal n. & v.
1. 作名词:吸引力;感染力
【例】This kind of music hasn’t much appeal for me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
2. 作动词:吸引;引起兴趣
【例】This kind of music doesn’t appeal to me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
But domestic producers may feel less of an incentive to develop cheap goods in the long term, knowing that they are shielded from foreign competition.
但从长远来看,国内生产商可能不那么有动力去开发廉价商品,因为他们知道自己不受外国竞争的影响。
immediate adj. 当前的;紧接着的
【例】the immediate concern 当务之急
the immediate future 短期内
She is out of immediate danger.
她眼下已经脱离危险。
be shielded from 被保护不受……影响
【例】The town was shielded from flood by the dam.
堤坝保护小镇不被洪水淹没
【近义词】be protected/insulated from 免受……的影响
appeal n. & v.
1. 作名词:吸引力;感染力
【例】This kind of music hasn’t much appeal for me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
2. 作动词:吸引;引起兴趣
【例】This kind of music doesn’t appeal to me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
The tariffs also represent a lost opportunity for the environment. Lower prices for EVs, solar panels and batteries would have boosted their appeal to consumers, as is essential if America is to green its economy.
这些关税也代表着环境保护方面失去的机会。电动汽车、太阳能电池板和电池的价格降低本可以提高它们对消费者的吸引力,如果美国要实现绿色经济,这是至关重要的。
immediate adj. 当前的;紧接着的
【例】the immediate concern 当务之急
the immediate future 短期内
She is out of immediate danger.
她眼下已经脱离危险。
be shielded from 被保护不受……影响
【例】The town was shielded from flood by the dam.
堤坝保护小镇不被洪水淹没
【近义词】be protected/insulated from 免受……的影响
appeal n. & v.
1. 作名词:吸引力;感染力
【例】This kind of music hasn’t much appeal for me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
2. 作动词:吸引;引起兴趣
【例】This kind of music doesn’t appeal to me.
这类音乐对我没什么吸引力。
课后练习
What was the public reaction to Biden's tariff policy announcement?
A. The stock market fell and economists expressed severe criticism.
B. The public reaction was relatively calm compared to Trump's tariffs.
C. The announcement was generally met with support from the public.
D. The attitude towards Biden's and Trump's tariffs was almost the same.
How do Biden's tariffs differ from those of Trump?
A. Biden's tariff rates are much higher and cover a wider range of goods.
B. Both administrations target the electric vehicle imported from China.
C. Biden’s tariffs will create a fairer competition between China and America.
D. Biden's tariffs will have less impact on current trade than those of Trump.
What is the purpose of Biden’s new tariffs?
A. To enhance the profitability of America's large industries.
B. To limit the supply of China-made goods in American market.
C. To protect emerging domestic industries from fierce competition.
D. To increase revenue from imports to fund the construction of new factories.
One of the potential downsides of the new tariffs is ____.
A. higher prices for American consumers in a short period
B. a large-scale transfer of industries away from China
C. an increase of pollution from the manufacturers within America
D. a lack of motivation of American businesses to produce cheap goods