2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Promotes His Economic Policy

By Paula Wolfson
White House
30 January 2007

One week after his State of the Union address, President Bush is making an all out effort to win support for his economic policies.  VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House that Mr. Bush is focusing on trade and taxes.

 
President Bush tours the Caterpillar¹ Plant in East Peoria, Illinois
The president went to America's heartland to make the case for free trade and against protectionism.

During a trip to Peoria, Illinois, he visited a tractor factory, and talked about the growing demand overseas for American goods.

In a speech to employees of Caterpillar Incorporated, Mr. Bush said those who advocate a more protectionist stance in the name of saving American jobs are wrong. 

"It is a topic of hot debate," he said.  "The temptation is to say, 'Trade may not be worth it, let's isolate² ourselves'.  'Let's protect ourselves.'   I know it would be a mistake for Caterpillar workers to do that.  I know it is a bad mistake for the country to lose our confidence and not compete."

The president said the United States is the largest exporter in the world, exporting a record $1.4 trillion in goods and services in 2006.   He said exports now make up about 11 percent of the U.S. economy, and that level can only rise as new free-trade agreements are implemented³, and new markets open to American products.

"One way to look at trade is this," he added.  "We are five-percent of the people of the world.  That means 95 percent live outside of America.  And shouldn't we put ourselves in a position where we can sell goods and services to that 95 percent?  I think it makes sense to do so."

 
Susan Schwab at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, 30 Jan 2007
Mr. Bush made the comments at a crucial time in efforts to restart negotiations⁴ on a world trade agreement.   His top trade negotiator, Susan Schwab, recently met informally with other trade ministers and is expressing confidence the Doha Round of trade talks may be back on track.

The president did not refer directly to the status of the world trade negotiations in his Peoria address, but he did talk about the need for free and fair trade across the board.

"We just want people to treat us fairly," he explained.  "I am confident in our ability to sell American products and services overseas if the playing field is level."

Mr. Bush went on to discuss other economic issues, saying once again that he intends to send Congress a spending plan next week that could balance the federal budget in five years while keeping taxes low.

1 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

2 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。