VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Heads to Ottawa for First Foreign Trip as

U.S. President Barack Obama begins his first foreign trip since taking office when he heads to Canada on Thursday.
　
Pres. Obama steps out of his limousine¹ before departure from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix², 18 Feb 2009

White House officials said economic matters will top the agenda during President Obama's visit to Canada. It should come as no surprise because the U.S. and Canadian economies are deeply intertwined.

Canada is America's largest trading partner - exceeding the U.S. trade relationships with China and the European Union. Canada is also the largest single exporter of oil and natural gas to the United States.

That is why a statement by candidate Barack Obama last year, during the height of his bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination³, created so much concern north of the border.

NAFTA revisited

He raised the specter of renegotiating NAFTA - the North American Free Trade Agreement - with Canada and Mexico.

"I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt⁴ out as leverage⁵ to insure that we actually get labor⁶ and environmental standards that are enforced," he said.

Since then, his comments on NAFTA have become more restrained. In an interview this week with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Obama said the United States respects its trade pacts⁷. He said he simply wants to incorporate NAFTA side agreements on labor and the environment into the trade deal.

"What I have also said is that Canada is one of our most important trading partners; we rely on them heavily. There is $1.5 billion worth of trade going back and forth⁸ every day between the two countries and it is not in anybody's interest to see that trade diminish," he explained.

That is welcome news to Canadian leaders, who have stressed that their country is a reliable source of energy for the United States in a sometimes turbulent world.

The environmental cost of Canada's crude
　
A June 25, 2008 aerial view of an area in Alberta, Canada, where the world's largest oil companies are building open pit mines to get at the oil sands

But Canada's oil carries a big environmental price. Most of the heavy crude it sells to the United States comes from massive reserves in the western province of Alberta, where oil comes mixed with sand and clay. It is separated in a process that emits vast amounts of greenhouse gases.

President Obama told the Canadian Broadcasting Company that the answer may be new technology.

"I think to the extent that Canada and the United States can collaborate⁹ on ways that we can sequester¹⁰ carbon, capture greenhouse gases before they are emitted into the atmosphere, that is going to be good for everybody," he said.

Environmentalists, however, are urging President Obama to push for tough restrictions¹¹ on the production of tar¹² sands oil.

"Any kind of special exemption¹³ or protection that would be given for greenhouse gas regulations, especially for the expanding the tar sands industry, just seem to be totally at odds¹⁴ with the commitments that both of our countries have made to fight global warming," said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, who is with the National Resources Defense¹⁵ Council.

Another sensitive issue: Afghanistan

Another sensitive issue on the agenda for the talks in the Canadian capital is Afghanistan.

Canada has about 2,700 soldiers in the southern city of Kandahar whose mission is due to end in 2011.

Inter-American relations specialist Peter DeShazo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said President Obama is not likely to ask Prime Minister Harper to reconsider.

"I am not sure that is an issue that is on the table. What will be of more concern to both sides is the current situation in Afghanistan and what needs to be done," he said.
　
Stephen Harper (file)

This will be President Obama's first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration¹⁶. And while he will discuss important matters with Prime Minister Harper, the session is primarily a chance for the two men to get acquainted.

Ideologically¹⁷, Mr. Harper, who heads the Conservative Party, might have had more in common with Mr. Obama's predecessor¹⁸, George Bush. But analyst¹⁹ Peter DeShazo said the Canadian leader will likely find plenty of common ground with Barack Obama.

"The issues involved in the U.S.-Canadian relationship transcend²⁰ politics on either side. And, therefore, progress in working those issues is important to both sides," he added.
　
An image of US President Obama is taped to a lamppost near Parliament Hill, 18 Feb. 2009

Mr. Obama will be in Ottawa for less than seven hours and it will be all business - a series of private meetings and a press conference.

Security is expected to be high, with road closures and restrictions on air traffic. But large crowds are expected near Parliament Hill, where the events will take place. Recent public opinion polls in Canada have shown approval ratings of up to 86 percent for the new president of the United States.

1 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

2 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

5 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 pacts   

条约( pact的名词复数 )； 协定； 公约

参考例句：

• Vassals can no longer accept one-sided defensive pacts (!). 附庸国不会接受单方面的共同防御协定。
• Well, they are EU members now and have formed solidarity pacts with members such as Poland. 他们现在已经是欧盟的一部分了并且他们和欧盟成员诸如波兰等以签署了合作协议。

8 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

9 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

10 sequester   

vt.使退隐，使隔绝

参考例句：

• Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
• This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。

11 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

12 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

13 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

14 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

15 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

16 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

17 ideologically   

adv. 意识形态上地，思想上地

参考例句：

• Ideologically, they have many differences. 在思想意识上，他们之间有许多不同之处。
• He has slipped back ideologically. 他思想退步了。

18 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

19 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

20 transcend   

vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围

参考例句：

• We can't transcend the limitations of the ego.我们无法超越自我的局限性。
• Everyone knows that the speed of airplanes transcend that of ships.人人都知道飞机的速度快于轮船的速度。