Lesson 08 Trading Standards

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What makes trading between rich countries difficult?

Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables. No, say the American: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining. An electric razor that meets the European Union’s safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU’s okay before is hits the market in Europe.

As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products. They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28TH. Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing. The EU—following fine continental traditions—wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

📖 文章概览

主题

富国之间的贸易障碍：技术标准 vs 关税

核心观点

  • ❌ 传统关税已不是主要障碍
  • ✅ 监管标准差异才是真正的贸易壁垒
  • 🔄 美欧谈判方式存在根本分歧

文章结构

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问题提出 → 解决尝试 → 困难分析
   ↓          ↓          ↓
标准差异    统一测试    方法分歧
(第1段)     (第2段)     (第3段)

🌐 全文翻译

原文 + 译文对照

Paragraph 1

Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables. No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining. An electric razor that meets the European Union’s safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU’s okay before it hits the market in Europe.

译文：
布鲁塞尔的官员声称，在美国屠宰的鸡肉不适合摆上欧洲人的餐桌。美国人则反驳说：不对，我们的家禽很好，我们只是用不同的方式清洗它们而已。如今，阻碍富裕国家之间贸易的，与其说是关税，不如说是各国监管规定的差异。抱怨的不仅仅是农民。一个符合欧盟安全标准的电动剃须刀，在美国销售之前必须获得美国检测机构的批准；而一台美国制造的透析机，在进入欧洲市场之前也需要获得欧盟的许可。

Paragraph 2

As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products. They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

译文：
事实上，在欧洲安全的剃须刀不太可能电死美国人。所以，问问大西洋两岸的企业，为什么要做两套测试，明明一套就够了？政治家们原则上同意，所以美国和欧盟一直在努力达成协议，以消除对许多产品进行双重测试的需要。他们希望在5月28日美国和欧盟贸易峰会之前完成谈判。尽管谈判代表持乐观态度，但细节足够复杂，他们可能很难达成任何协议。

Paragraph 3

Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing. The EU—following fine continental traditions—wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

译文：
为什么（谈判困难）？一个困难是如何构建协议。美国人乐意先就医疗器械标准达成一项协议，然后再分别敲定涵盖电子产品和药品制造等不同领域的协定。而欧盟——遵循优良的欧陆传统——希望就总体原则达成协议，这些原则可以适用于多种产品，并且或许还能扩展到其他国家。

📚 核心词汇速查

高频词汇表

英文 音标 中文 词性 例句
slaughter /ˈslɔːtə(r)/ 屠宰 v./n. chickens slaughtered in the US
fowl /faʊl/ 家禽 n. our fowl are fine
tariff /ˈtærɪf/ 关税 n. far more than tariffs
razor /ˈreɪzə(r)/ 剃须刀 n. an electric razor
dialysis /daɪˈæləsɪs/ 透析 n. dialysis machine
electrocute /ɪˈlektrəkjuːt/ 电死 v. unlikely to electrocute
eliminate /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ 消除 v. eliminate the need
summit /ˈsʌmɪt/ 峰会 n. trade summit
negotiator /nɪˈɡəʊʃieɪtə(r)/ 谈判者 n. negotiators are optimistic
hammer out - 敲定 phr.v. hammer out different pacts
pact /pækt/ 协定 n. sign a pact

关键短语

短语 含义 用法场景
put sand in the wheels 制造障碍 形容阻碍进展
as it happens 事实上 引出实际情况
in principle 原则上 表示理论同意
in time for 及时赶上 表示时间要求
hard-pressed to do 很难做到 表示困难处境
reach an accord 达成协议 正式谈判用语

🔍 逐段精讲

第一段：问题的提出

段落结构

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引入案例（鸡肉争议）
    ↓
提出核心观点（标准差异 > 关税）
    ↓
扩展例证（工业产品）

关键句解析

句1：鸡肉争议

Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables.

语法点：

  • 插入语：claim officials in Brussels
  • be fit to do = 适合做某事
  • grace = 为…增光（带讽刺）

句2：美国反驳

No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way.

语法点：

  • 倒装插入语：say the Americans
  • simply 强调差异微小

句3：核心观点（⭐重点句）

These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries.

语法点：

  • 强调句型：It is... that...
  • 比较结构：far more than = 与其说…不如说…
  • 习语：put sand in the wheels = 制造障碍

改写练习：

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原句结构：It is A, far more than B, that...
仿写：It is lack of communication, far more than 
      technical issues, that causes project delays.

句4-5：具体例证

An electric razor that meets the EU’s safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the US…

重点：

  • 定语从句修饰 razor
  • must be approved by = 被动语态
  • 双重测试的荒谬性

第二段：解决方案的尝试

段落结构

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反讽开场（安全性不是问题）
    ↓
提出质疑（为何重复测试）
    ↓
谈判进展（乐观但困难）

关键句解析

句1：反讽

As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans.

修辞手法：

  • 用夸张（电死人）突出重复测试的荒谬
  • as it happens = 事实上

句2：反问（⭐修辞亮点）

So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do?

句型分析：

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Why have [两个] where [一个] would do?
= 为什么要两个，一个就够了？

仿写：
- Why have two meetings where one would do?
- Why use two systems where one would suffice?

句3：谈判现状

Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products.

语法点：

  • in principle = 原则上（暗示实际困难）
  • have been trying = 现在完成进行时（强调持续努力）
  • 定语从句修饰 deal

句4：转折（⭐重点句）

Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

句型结构：

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Although..., ... so/enough... that...
= 尽管...，但...如此...以至于...

关键短语：
- hard-pressed to do = 很难做到
- at all = 根本（强调否定）

第三段：困难分析

段落结构

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提出问题（为何困难）
    ↓
美国立场（分领域谈判）
    ↓
欧盟立场（框架协议）

美欧对比表

维度 🇺🇸 美国方式 🇪🇺 欧盟方式
方法 逐个领域单独谈判 制定通用原则框架
例子 医疗→协议A
电子→协议B		 一个总协议
适用所有领域
哲学 实用主义 理想主义
优点 ✅ 灵活快速
✅ 技术精确		 ✅ 系统完整
✅ 易扩展
缺点 ❌ 碎片化
❌ 耗时长		 ❌ 难达成
❌ 不灵活

关键句解析

句1：美国立场

The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing.

短语详解：

  • would happily = 乐意（表示偏好）
  • hammer out = 敲定（比喻艰难达成）
  • say = 比如说（插入语）

句2：欧盟立场（⭐文化对比）

The EU—following fine continental traditions—wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

修辞分析：

  • following fine continental traditions = 委婉讽刺
    • 表面：赞扬欧洲传统
    • 实际：暗示过于理想化、不够灵活

文化背景：

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欧陆传统（Continental Tradition）：
- 源于罗马法系
- 强调系统性、逻辑性
- 重视成文法典
- 先理论后实践

英美传统（Anglo-American Tradition）：
- 源于判例法
- 强调实用性、灵活性
- 重视案例和先例
- 先实践后总结

📝 总结与检测

核心要点回顾

1. 文章主旨（3个层次）

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表层：美欧贸易谈判困难
中层：技术标准差异成为新型贸易壁垒
深层：文化和法律体系差异导致谈判僵局

2. 关键词汇（必须掌握）

  • 贸易类：tariff, pact, summit, negotiator
  • 标准类：regulation, standard, certification
  • 动作类：eliminate, hammer out, reach an accord
  • 修辞类：put sand in the wheels, as it happens

3. 重要句型（可复用）

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1. It is A, far more than B, that...
2. Why have X where Y would do?
3. Although..., ... enough that...
4. A would happily... and then...
   B, following..., wants...

记住：理解 → 记忆 → 应用 → 内化