VOA标准英语2009年-APEC Economies Report Improved Trade Finan

By Daniel Schearf
Singapore
09 November 2009

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum¹ has released a survey that shows an improvement in financing trade in more than half of their economies. The survey was released during APEC meetings in Singapore.

 
The venue² of the APEC summit, in Singapore, 08 Nov 2009
The survey released Monday indicates trade finance has since July improved in most APEC economies as more cash has become available.

Twelve out of the 19 APEC economies surveyed said companies conducting trade had no serious problems accessing funds. 

That compares with eight out of 18 APEC economies surveyed that felt that way in July.

The survey does not say which of APEC's 21 economies were surveyed, but says they are optimistic that trade finance will ease further in the next six months.

The survey comes as senior officials from APEC economies met for a second day in Singapore to discuss recovering from the global financial crisis and improving business in the Pacific Rim³. Free trade agreements top the agenda - both agreements already in existence among members, and the proposed APEC agreement that would liberalize trade across the Pacific.

Elizabeth Chelliah is chairwoman of APEC's committee for trade and investment. She says APEC members need to learn what works in free trade agreements as they move toward creating an APEC-wide deal.

"We can actually use a ready made FTA outside there as a possible vehicle so APEC can still concentrate on doing what it's very good at doing - awareness⁴, capacity building, dialogue issues," Chelliah said. "And [as] economies become more comfortable I hope over the next year or two we will be able to set the timeline for development of this FTA."

Chelliah says APEC members have been studying how the European Union expanded its free trade area, as well as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand trade agreement and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership⁵.

Although there is no firm timetable for an APEC free trade agreement, Chelliah says there has been substantial progress on liberalizing trade among some members.

She says on Monday, Australia, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States agreed to simplify customs procedures for preferential trading partners.

The six nations will allow companies to self-certify where goods come from so they no longer have to spend time and money going though export authorities.

The APEC leaders' week in Singapore includes meetings of finance, trade and foreign ministers as well as the heads of international companies.

The forum ends with a summit of APEC world leaders, including President Obama, making his first trip to Asia as president.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

4 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。