China and US to talk about trade(中美洽谈贸易)

The trade talks come just a couple of weeks before the US President Barack Obama makes his first visit to China.

The Americans say these talks are an important opportunity to engage China at a very senior level（高层） on specific trade issues（问题）.

The US and China are engaged in several trade disputes（纠纷）.

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is leading the American delegation¹.

Tyre dispute

The Chinese side is represented（代表） by vice² premier³ Wang Qishan.

Mr Locke signalled that energy co-operation was likely to be an important topic around the table.

US firms are seeking access to the potentially lucrative（有利可图） Chinese market for clean energy and alternative fuels.

China and the US are involved in a number of different trade disputes, but of course the politicians are seeking to play down their differences ahead of the meeting.

Asked about a recent US decision to impose tariffs⁴ on cheap tyres Mr Locke insisted that some of the cases that appear in the newspaper headlines represent only a small fraction of Chinese exports to the US. (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

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。