US Trade Deals Delayed

 　　The Obama administration has confirmed that it will delay sending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress until lawmakers return from a scheduled August recess¹. The White House and Republicans disagree over a program designed to help Americans who lose their jobs to overseas competition.

　　Putting the three trade deals into effect has been a White House priority almost since President Barack Obama took office in January 2009.

　　His predecessor², President George W. Bush, reached the agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

　　Since then, the Obama administration has linked the deals with its efforts to revitalize the sluggish³ economic recovery, as the president said on July 8.

　　“Today, Congress can advance trade agreements that will help businesses sell more American-made goods and services to Asia and South America, supporting thousands of jobs here at home.  That could be done right now,” Obama said.

　　Yet, the White House and Republicans in Congress have disagreed over several provisions of the deals.

　　The approval process stalled last month after Republicans opposed linking the agreements to an aid program for workers hurt by global competition.  The White House wants to tie an extension of the program to the South Korea deal.

　　Because of the dispute, the administration has not formally submitted the three agreements to Congress.

　　Less than two weeks ago, on July 11, the president showed his impatience⁴ with lawmakers over the impasse⁵.

　　“I still think we are going to have to do a whole bunch of stuff, including, for example, trade deals that are before Congress right now that could add tens of thousands of jobs.  Republicans gave me this list, at the beginning of this year, as a priority, something that they thought they could do.  Now I am ready to do it, and so far we have not gotten the kind of movement that I would have expected,” Obama said.

　　Administration officials have said the agreements must be approved soon, to prevent U.S. exporters from losing business to other countries pursuing their own deals with the three nations.

　　A free trade deal between South Korea and the European Union took effect recently.  Colombia and Canada have an agreement which comes into force August 15.

　　President Obama has worked for several years to address complaints from his own Democratic Party about the three trade deals.

　　His administration has renegotiated parts of the South Korea agreement that relate to the auto⁶ industry.  The White House also put together an agreement with Colombia to address concerns about labor⁷ rights and violence against union leaders.

1 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

4 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。

5 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

6 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。