世行:政策不确定性影响贸易

 　　WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Global trade growth is constrained¹ by a number of factors, and policy uncertainty² is one of them, the result of a World Bank policy paper showed on Tuesday.

　　The global merchandise trade grew by a little more than one percent in 2016, the weakest performance since the global financial crisis, and compared to 2 percent in 2015 and 2.7 percent in 2014, according to the paper.

　　Services trade continued to be to relatively³ resilient and recovered slightly following a decline in 2015, said the paper.

　　World Bank says policy uncertainty weighs on trade growth

　　It also found that the sluggish⁴ trade growth was seen in both advanced and emerging market economies, while in previous years the weak trade performance had been concentrated in either high-income or developing countries.

　　The weak trade growth in 2016 continued to reflect enduring structural⁵ factors, such as the maturing of global value chains and the slower pace of trade liberalization. Cyclical factors, such as slow global growth and commodity prices declines, were also leading to the sluggish trade growth.

　　It also found that the increase in policy uncertainty may have also contributed to trade slowing in 2016. The research found that the increase in uncertainty may have reduced trade growth by about 0.6 percentage points in 2016.

　　"Policy uncertainty in Europe and the United States had a negative impact on trade by reducing overall global growth," said the paper's authors, World Bank economists⁶ Cristina Constantinescu, Aaditya Mattoo, and Michele Ruta.

　　"In a more uncertain environment, firms may choose to postpone⁷ investment and export decisions and consumers may cut back spending. The threat of unraveling trade agreements may also hurt trade growth by adding to policy uncertainty," they said.

　　The paper also emphasized the importance of trade agreements, saying that recent trade growth would have been even lower in the absence of trade agreements.

1 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 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。

5 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

6 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。