VOA慢速英語：美國在世貿(mào)組織對歐盟等國發(fā)起訴訟

US Disputes Tariffs from Canada, China, Mexico, EU

美國在世貿(mào)組織對歐盟等國發(fā)起訴訟

The United States has launched five separate dispute actions at the World Trade Organization against Canada, China, the European Union, Mexico and Turkey. The U.S. says these countries wrongly placed tariffs on U.S. products.

美國在世貿(mào)組織對加拿大、中國、歐盟、墨西哥以及土耳其分別發(fā)起訴訟。美國表示，這些國家對美國產(chǎn)品錯誤地征收關稅。

The tariffs would involve a combined $28.5 billion worth of U.S. exports. They were ordered in reaction to U.S. tariffs announced in March. However, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says the latest tariffs are illegal under WTO rules.

這些關稅涉及價值合計285億美元的美國出口貨物，下令征收這些關稅是為了回應今年3月份美國宣布的關稅。然而，美國貿(mào)易代表萊特希澤表示，這些最新的關稅是非法的。

The Trump administration has said American national security interests justified tariffs it placed on imported aluminum and steel products. It said the tariffs are meant to protect the U.S. steel and aluminum industries from low-cost imports from other countries.

川普政府表示，美國的國家安全利益證明了他們對鋼鋁產(chǎn)品征收關稅的正當性。該國表示，這些關稅旨在保護美國鋼鋁產(chǎn)業(yè)免受其它國家低成本進口的沖擊。

But the administration argues the tariffs put in place by the four countries and the EU are not permitted because they are not based on national security.

但是美國政府辯稱，歐盟和這4個國家實施的關稅是不允許的，因為它們不是以國家安全為基礎。

Under WTO rules, countries decide what their national security interests are. But the group also dissuades countries from overuse of that justification to avoid abuses.

根據(jù)世貿(mào)組織規(guī)則，各國自行決定其國家安全利益所在。但是該組織也勸誡各國不要過度使用這種正當理由以避免濫用。

Lighthizer said, "Instead of working with us to address a common problem, some of our trading partners have elected to respond with retaliatory tariffs designed to punish American workers, farmers and companies."

萊特希澤表示：“我們的一些貿(mào)易伙伴不是跟我們合作來解決這個普遍問題，而是選擇以旨在懲罰美國工人、農(nóng)民和企業(yè)的報復性關稅作為回應。”

What is the WTO?

什么是世貿(mào)組織?

The World Trade Organization describes itself as the "only global international organization dealing with trade between nations."

世貿(mào)組織自稱為“唯一一家處理國家間貿(mào)易的全球性國際組織”。

There are trade agreements between countries or groups of countries that also set rules for international trade. These include the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.

各國以及國家集團之間的貿(mào)易協(xié)議也制定了一些國際貿(mào)易的規(guī)則，其中包括北美自由貿(mào)易協(xié)定。

But WTO officials point out that these agreements are not designed to deal with big issues that affect many countries or individual industries across borders.

但是世貿(mào)組織官員指出，這些協(xié)議并非旨在解決影響多個國家或單個跨國行業(yè)的重大問題。

The WTO was established in 1995 following years of negotiations. The talks began at the end of World War Two and involved more than one hundred countries. The group has added more large economies in recent years including China in 2001, Vietnam in 2007 and Russia in 2012.

世貿(mào)組織經(jīng)過多年談判于1995年成立。這些談判始于二戰(zhàn)結束，涉及了100多個國家。該組織近年新增了更多大的經(jīng)濟體，其中包括2001年中國加入，2007年越南以及2012年俄羅斯加入。

The body, which is based in Geneva, has a General Council that includes all its members. The Council carries out the business of negotiating, observing trade conditions and settling disputes among members in addition to other activities.

該機構總部設在日內(nèi)瓦，設有一個包括所有成員的總理事會。除了其它活動，該理事會還開展商業(yè)談判、監(jiān)測貿(mào)易狀況以及解決成員國之間的糾紛。

Below the General Council are many committees that specialize in the complex issues of trade in goods, services and intellectual property.

總理事會下設多個委員會，專攻商品、服務或知識產(chǎn)權貿(mào)易等復雜問題。

Decisions in the WTO are "generally made by consensus," meaning all members must agree. And, all members have an equal vote.

世貿(mào)組織的決定通常是以協(xié)商一致的方式作出的，這意味著必須獲得所有成員認可。而且所有成員擁有同等投票權。

The latest disputes over U.S. tariffs have set off measures and counter-measures by the countries including China, the EU and Canada.

最近關于美國關稅的爭端引發(fā)包括中國、歐盟和加拿大在內(nèi)的國家采取應對措施。

Mexico is one of the countries the U.S. has included in its WTO dispute action. Mexico's economy minister said the country would defend itself in the trade body against the latest U.S. actions.

墨西哥也是美國納入其世貿(mào)組織爭端訴訟的國家之一。墨西哥經(jīng)濟部長表示，該國將會在該貿(mào)易機構對美國這一最新訴訟作出辯護。

The ministry said in a statement, "U.S. purchases of Mexican steel and aluminum do not represent a national security threat to that country."

該部長在一份聲明中表示，“美國購買墨西哥鋼鋁產(chǎn)品并不代表是對該國國家安全的威脅。”

On Monday, the International Monetary Fund warned that growing trade conflicts could harm the world's economic recovery.

國際貨幣基金組織周一警告說，日益加劇的貿(mào)易沖突可能會損害世界經(jīng)濟復蘇。

The IMF continues to predict world economic growth will reach 3.9 percent in 2019. But it warned, "The risk of worse outcomes has increased."

世貿(mào)組織仍然預測2019年全球經(jīng)濟增長率將會達到3.9%。但它警告說，“結局惡化的風險增加了。”

Maurice Obstfeld is the chief economist for the IMF. He said the tariffs make the U.S. a target of trade actions if trade disputes continue to expand.

莫里斯·奧伯斯法爾德(Maurice Obstfeld)是國際貨幣基金組織首席經(jīng)濟學家。他說，如果貿(mào)易爭端繼續(xù)擴大，這些關稅將會使得美國成為貿(mào)易行動的目標。

"The United States finds a relatively high share of its exports taxed in global markets in such a broader trade conflict," he said.

他說：“在如此廣泛的貿(mào)易沖突中，美國會發(fā)現(xiàn)其出口稅率在全球市場上會相對較高。”

I'm Mario Ritter.

馬里奧·里特報道。