VOA慢速英语2014 AS IT IS 2014-04-13 Political Unrest Threatens Thailand's Economy 泰国政治上的动荡威胁其经济发展

 

AS IT IS 2014-04-13 Political Unrest Threatens Thailand's Economy 泰国政治上的动荡威胁其经济发展

Hello again, and welcome to As It Is! I’m Jonathan Evans in Washington.

On our program today, we bring you two reports dealing¹ with major economies in the Asia-Pacific area. We tell you which Japanese carmaker says it will move its manufacturing out of Australia. Hear that report later in the program. But first, we hear how continuing political unrest in Thailand threatens the country’s economy. Christopher Cruise has more.

Political Unrest Threatens Thailand’s Economy

Economists² are warning of slower growth in Thailand, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.  In February, a major credit rating agency reported that continued political unrest in Thailand could hurt the country’s economy.  In its report, Fitch Ratings noted³ a reduction in manufacturing and sharply lower sales of goods and services.  Fitch said the trust of both Thai consumers and businesses is at its lowest level since the huge floods of 2011.

Some foreign investors⁴ have become concerned.  The president of Toyota Motor Corp in Thailand warned that long terms investors may put their money in other areas, like Indonesia or Vietnam.

Chris Bake is an expert on business in Thailand.  He says major foreign investors are concerned about the elections that took place in February.  They fear the lack of a clear winner will frighten investors.  He also says carmakers and related businesses are concerned the government will be unable to make serious policy decisions.

Thailand’s government is under financial pressure to pay rice farmers billions of dollars for rice it promised to buy at higher than market prices.  Now, the government is having trouble finding the money to pay the farmers.  Banks have been unwilling⁵ to loan money for the plan.

Foreign investors have also been pulling back from the Thai stock market since political protests began in November. 

Andrew McBean is a partner with Grant Thornton Thailand, a business advisory⁶ service.  He says the fact that the elections were largely peaceful was a hopeful sign.

Still, Thailand’s tourist industry has been hurt by the unrest in the capital, Bangkok.  More than 40 countries have announced travel alerts.  And tourism officials estimated losses for the month of January alone at $685 million. 

The Thai economy has recovered from earlier political and economic problems.  But continuing unrest may make it harder for foreigners to want to return as they have in the past.

I'm Christopher Cruise.

And I’m Jonathan Evans. You are listening to As It Is from VOA Learning English.

Automobile⁸ manufacturing in Australia could face serious cuts.  Japanese automaker Toyota recently announced it would to stop manufacturing cars in the country. We hear more from Mario Ritter.

 

Japanese Carmaker Toyota to Pull Out of Australia

Industry experts and trade unions are worried the decision could push parts of Australia into recession.  Last May, Ford⁹ Motor Company said it would stop manufacturing in Australia.  General Motors announced late last year that it also plans to suspend factory operations in the country.

Toyota says more than 2,000 of its workers will lose their jobs.  But trade unions say the company’s decision to end production could leave 50,000 Australians jobless.  They say the decision could take $19 billion away from the Australian economy.  The states of Victoria and South Australia would be hurt the most.

Australia’s car manufacturing industry was once very strong.  In recent years, Australia produced about 200,000 vehicles a year for sales at home and for export.  The industry spent more than $540 million dollars on research and development.

John Spoehr is executive director of the Australian Workplace, Innovation and Social Research Center at the University of Adelaide.  He says carmakers have found it difficult to operate in Australia.

“We now have one of the most competitive auto⁷ markets in the world with at least sixty different models here. In addition, we have had declining demand internationally as a consequence of the global financial crisis, and the rise of low-cost manufacturing in India, China and Thailand.”

The collapse¹⁰ of automobile industry has also raised concerns in the Australian parliament.  The opposition¹¹ has accused Prime Minster Tony Abbott of not doing enough to persuade Toyota not to close down its factories. 

Mr. Abbott has argued that he cannot be blamed for the industry’s long-term decline because he has been in office for only a few months. Traditionally, Australia’s car industry has received billions of dollars in government assistance.

The government has asked its Productivity Commission to investigate public support for the automotive industry.  The commission carries out research and makes suggestions on economic, social and environmental issues.  The group has noted that big changes are taking place in Australia’s car industry faces.  It says the changes are affecting both industry employees and manufacturers of car parts.  The commission is planning to give its final report to the government by the end of March.

I’m Mario Ritter.

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 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》

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

6 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

8 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

9 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

10 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

11 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。