Free Trade Pact with US Draws Opposition in South Korea

 　　A controversial trade pact¹ between South Korea and the United States that becomes a reality Thursday has drawn² skepticism from opposition³ politicians in South Korea who are not accepting it as a fait accompli.

　　The deal, known as the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, at one stroke, eliminates tariffs⁴ on more than 7,000 South Korean products and nearly 62,000 American goods and services.

　　Advocates here predict it will help expand South Korea's GDP by nearly six percent, in the next ten years.

　　But the main opposition party is having none of it. It foresees the trade pact benefiting big corporations at the expense of smaller companies, workers and farmers.

　　There is also widespread skepticism whether South Korean consumers will see prices decrease commensurate with the tariff⁵ cuts or whether those in the supply chain will just pocket extra profits.

　　Former prime minister Han Myung-sook, who is the chairwoman of the Democratic United Party, insists the deal must be re-negotiated.

　　Han says her party will push for fresh trade talks with Washington if it retakes power following this year's national assembly and presidential elections.

　　But Han doesn't go as far as some members of her party, who say the agreement must be totally scrapped⁶.

　　Inha University professor of international trade, Hyun Jung-taik, calls the opposition's position unrealistic and illogical.

　　Hyun notes that, in 2007, when the opposition controlled the government, it believed the deal with the United States was a good one. But two years ago, it changed its stance because of concessions⁷ granted to the United States in the automotive sector⁸.

　　Despite the debate about the agreement's ramifications⁹, what is certain is that, from Thursday, South Korea becomes the only Asian country to have implemented¹⁰ such deals with both the European Union and the United States, the world's two

　　largest markets.

1 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 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。

5 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

6 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

7 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 ramifications   

n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. 这些变化注定会造成许多难以预料的社会后果。
• What are the ramifications of our decision to join the union? 我们决定加入工会会引起哪些后果呢？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句