VOA慢速英語:國會就美國進出口銀行工作展開討論

這里是美國之音經濟報道。

A policy dispute is taking shape in Washington over a government agency that helps exporters. On one side is the American business community. On the other side are conservative Republican Party lawmakers. Unless Congress takes action, the Export-Import Bank of the United States could be forced to stop accepting new customers at the end of June.

華盛頓正在就一份關于政府機構幫助出口商貿易的政策展開爭論。一方面是美國企業(yè)界，另一方面是保守的共和黨議員。除非國會采取行動，否則美國進出口銀行將會在六月底被迫通知接收新客戶。

W.S. Darley and Company is a 108-year-old family business. It makes fire trucks in the United States, and sells them all over the world.

W.S. Darley公司是一個有108年歷史的家族式企業(yè)。該企業(yè)在美國生產消防車，然后銷往世界各地。

The Export-Import Bank provides loans or other assistance to buyers of U.S. products. Peter Darley is Darley's Chief Executive Officer.

進出口銀行為美國產品買家提供貸款或者其他服務。Peter Darley是Darley公司的首席執(zhí)行官。

"They (the customers) can spread their payments out over a period of time, makes it more affordable."

他們(買家)可以在一段時間內分期付款，這樣還比較好接受。

Business leaders and officials say small companies making products from pickles to ice cream have received help from the Export-Import Bank. The bank's supporters recently met in Washington. They say U.S. exports would slow without help from the government agency. And that, they say, would hurt economic growth.

商界領袖和政府官員說一些小企業(yè)從制作咸菜到冰激凌的公司都獲得了進出口銀行的幫助。最近銀行支持者在華盛頓舉行了會晤。他們說美國出口如果沒有政府機構的幫助增長速度就會放緩。他們還說這樣就會對經濟發(fā)展造成損傷。

The Export-Import Bank also provides help to big companies. The aircraft maker Boeing receives help from the bank. Boeing says it would have to move some of its manufacturing jobs overseas without the help it receives.

進出口銀行同時還向大企業(yè)提供服務。飛機制造商波音公司就收到了該銀行的幫助。波音公司稱如果沒有改銀行的幫助其可能將會把一些制造工作安排在海外國家。

But Delta Airlines has a different opinion about the government agency. Delta says the bank has helped foreign customers buy airplanes from Boeing at a lower cost than it can. The airline company says that hurts its profits and U.S. aviation jobs.

但是三角航空公司對政府機構持不同意見。三角航空公司說銀行幫助外國客戶以比其出價更低的成本從波音公司購買飛機。航空公司表示這會損害到其自身利益和美國航空工作。

Delta's concerns are one reason for planned hearings next month in the U.S. Senate. This week, the House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee held hearings. Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling is a Republican and chairman of the committee. Before the hearing, he said big companies get the majority of the bank's assistance.

三角航空公司的擔心是下個月在美國參議院舉行聽證會的原因之一。本周時候眾議院金融服務委員會舉行了聽證會。德克薩斯議員 Jeb Hensarling是一位共和黨議員也是委員會的主席。在聽證會開始前，他說大企業(yè)公司獲得了大部分的銀行支持服務。

"The smarter and fairer way to promote American exports is by fundamental tax reform, strong trade agreements, a regulatory freeze with the exception of health and safety, and greater American energy independence with projects like the keystone pipeline."

促進美國出口工作更加明智和公平需要通過基本的稅制改革，強大的貿易協(xié)定，凍結除健康和安全之外的監(jiān)管法規(guī)和像Keystone輸油管道這類能讓美國取得更大能源獨立性的項目。

But supporters argue that the Export-Import Bank provides important help when competing with government-supported foreign companies. The head of the bank, Fred Hochberg, says his agency helps both large and small U.S. Businesses.

但是支持者認為進出口銀行在與政府支持的外國企業(yè)競爭時能夠提供重要幫助。銀行行長Fred Hochberg說他的機構同時為美國大，小企業(yè)提供幫助服務。

"Companies come to us and say we either have to meet the competition, because foreign governments are supporting our competitors, or we are selling in a market where conventional financing is simply not available."

來找我們尋求幫助的公司講，我們或者面臨競爭，因為外國政府支持我們的競爭對手，或者我們在一個連常規(guī)融資都做不到的市場做生意。

Fred Hochberg says he is hopeful the Export-Import Bank will survive. He notes that 60 nations, including China and India, have similar agencies to support their exports.

Fred Hochberg說他有信心進出口銀行能夠繼續(xù)生存下去。他指出，有60個國家擁有類似的機構來支持他們的出口，其中包括中國和印度。

And that's the VOA Learning English Economics Report. I'm Mario Ritter.

VOA's Jim Randle reported this story from Washington. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

customers – n. someone who buys good or services from a business

conventional – adj. used and accepted by most people

fundamental – adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something

competition – n. the act of trying to do as well or better than others