外贸口语一点通第81期:自由贸易之关税壁垒

 A: Professor Wang, can I ask a few questions?

王教授，可以请教您几个问题吗？

B: Certainly.

当然可以。

A: What is the tariff¹?

什么是关税？

B: It is a tax levied² by the government on goods imported into that country.

关税是由政府对进口商品征收的一种税收。

A: Why does the government levy³ the tariff?

为什么要征收关税呢？

B: Tarrif provides the government with extra tax revenue.

关税给政府提供了额外的收入。

A: Anything else?

还有呢？

B: Tariff raises the price at which the goods are sold in the importing country and therefore makes them less competitive with locally produced goods.

关税提高了进口商品在国内销售的价格，因此使得它们没有当地生产的商品具有竞争力。

A: Oh, I know. Thank you, Professor Wang.

哦，我知道了。谢谢您，王教授。

B: Do not mention it.

不用客气。

“levy tax on sth”是“对……征税”的意思。例如：The government levies⁴ tax on imported goods. 政府要对进口商品征税。

“provide sb with sth”是“给……提供……”的意思。例如：The restaurant provides the staff with a free lunch. 这个餐厅给员工提供免费的午餐。

1 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。

2 levied   

征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税

参考例句：

• Taxes should be levied more on the rich than on the poor. 向富人征收的税应该比穷人的多。
• Heavy fines were levied on motoring offenders. 违规驾车者会遭到重罚。

3 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

4 levies   

（部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队

参考例句：

• At that time, taxes and levies were as many as the hairs on an ox. 那时，苛捐杂税多如牛毛。
• Variable levies can insulate farmers and consumers from world markets. 差价进口税可以把农民和消费者与世界市场隔离开来。