经济学人:贸易战争:谁是最后的赢家(2)

 　　The asymmetry¹ in the trade war is another uncomfortable fact. 这场贸易战中的不对称是另一个让人不安的事实。

　　Since America buys far more from China than vice² versa, America has more scope to impose tariffs³. 由于美国从中国进口的商品比出口中国的商品多，那么美国可对中国强制征税的商品范围就更大。

　　This imbalance, long discussed in theoretical terms, is close to becoming a hard reality. 这种在理论术语中久经讨论的不平衡就快变成一种严酷的现实。

　　Mr. Trump⁴ has instructed his trade team to consider 25% tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports as early as September, 早在9月的时候，特朗普就指示他的贸易团队考虑对中国价值两千亿美元的商品征收25%的关税，

　　taking the total affected⁵ by its tariffs to about $250bn, with room for twice that amount. 受关税影响的商品总价值约为2500亿美元，还有翻倍增长的空间。

　　China's threatened retaliation⁶, announced on August 3rd, will be tariffs on $60bn of American imports. 8月3日，中国宣布要进行报复，将对美国价值600亿美元的商品征收关税。

　　This would take the total under its tariffs to $110bn, with little room for more. 根据其关税规定，总价值可达1100亿美元，可增长空间微乎其微。

　　China has other weapons at its disposal. It can disrupt the lucrative⁷ Chinese operations of American businesses, from Apple to Starbucks. 中国还有其他武器可以使用。它可以干扰在中国赚钱的美国企业，比如苹果和星巴克。

　　But that would have downsides. 但是这样的做法也有缺点。

　　Declaring bogus justifications⁸ (health violations⁹, say) would reinforce foreign criticism of government meddling¹¹ in China's economy. 伪造的理由（比如违反健康条例）将会强化国外对于中国政府干预经济的批判。

　　And the nature of such interference, unlike tariffs, is that it will not be announced in advance, meaning it can take longer to register the impact. 不同于关税，这种干预的本质在于政府不会提前宣布进行干预，这意味着其影响的生效需要更长的时间。

　　The timing¹² of the trade war is most inconvenient¹³ for China. 对中国而言，这场贸易战的时机最为不利。

　　Over the past two years the government has waged a campaign to rein¹⁰ in debt levels. 在过去两年中，政府已经开始着手约束债务水平。

　　Finally this has started to bite, with credit growth slowing sharply. 最终，由于信贷增长骤减，该做法开始产生严重的后果。

1 asymmetry   

n.不对称；adj.不对称的，不对等的

参考例句：

• These bands must introduce longitudinal asymmetry in the planetary albedo.这些云带必定引起行星反照率的经向不对称性。
• In any event the asymmetry is clear enough.总之，不对称是非常明显的。

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 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。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

8 justifications   

正当的理由，辩解的理由( justification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• If he a vulgar person, she does not have justifications for him. 如果他是个低级趣味的人，她早就不会理他了。
• It depends on their effect on competition and possible justifications. 这则取决于它们对于竞争的影响和可能存在的正当抗辩理由。

9 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

10 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

11 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

12 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

13 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？