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Cold War Era Legislation Could Hinder US-Russia Trade

时间：2012-03-22 05:35:05

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（单词翻译）

 　　A relic1 of the Cold War era between the United States and Soviet2 Union could soon be an obstacle to improving trade between the U.S. and Russia, experts say.

　　Jackson-Vanik amendment4
　　The relic in question is known as “the Jackson-Vanik amendment,” which Congress passed as a modification5 to the 1974 Trade Act that regulated commerce between the United States and nations that were then controlled by communist governments.
　　Under Jackson-Vanik, Washington could not establish normal trade relations with another country unless that country granted its citizens full and unrestricted rights to emigrate. At the time, the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact6 allies severely7 restricted emigration.
　　“Congress initially8 passed the law in response to the Soviet Union’s emigration restrictions9, particularly with respect to its Jewish citizens,” Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said during a recent hearing. “Jackson-Vanik served its purpose. It helped millions of Jews emigrate freely.”
　　“But it is now a relic of the past,” Baucus said. “Every president, regardless of political party, has waived10 Jackson-Vanik’s requirements for Russia for the past 20 years.”
　　Economic impact
　　The Obama administration agrees, saying U.S. businesses will suffer unless Congress repeals12 Jackson-Vanik. Repeal11 would open the way for U.S. companies to continue doing normal business on a permanent basis with Russia, which is expected to become a full member of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO) this year.
　　The WTO, which oversees13 the rules of international trade, approved Russia’s membership application last December and trade experts expect Moscow to ratify14 the agreement by July.
　　As a full WTO member, Moscow must agree to a series of trade rules, including a ceiling on tariff15 levels imposed on imported goods and the protection of intellectual property. In addition, Russia will have to amend3 its economic and trade laws to make them conform to international standards.
　　Most trade experts agree that Jackson-Vanik should be repealed16 as soon as possible.
　　“First, it applies to a country that no longer exists - the Soviet Union,” Anders Aslund, a Russia expert with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told VOA. “Secondly, the problem in question is emigration and that has not been a problem for many years.”

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1 relic 4V2xd     
n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物
参考例句：
  • This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
  • He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。
2 Soviet Sw9wR     
adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃
参考例句：
  • Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
  • Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。
3 amend exezY     
vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿
参考例句：
  • The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
  • You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。
4 amendment Mx8zY     
n.改正，修正，改善，修正案
参考例句：
  • The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
  • The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
5 modification tEZxm     
n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻
参考例句：
  • The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的，它需要修改。
  • The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。
6 pact ZKUxa     
n.合同，条约，公约，协定
参考例句：
  • The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
  • The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。
7 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地
参考例句：
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
8 initially 273xZ     
adv.最初，开始
参考例句：
  • The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
  • Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。
9 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
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
10 waived 5fb1561b535ff0e477b379c4a7edcd74     
v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等）
参考例句：
  • He has waived all claim to the money. 他放弃了索取这笔钱的权利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I waived the discourse, and began to talk of my business. 我撇开了这个话题，开始讲我的事情。 来自辞典例句
11 repeal psVyy     
n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消
参考例句：
  • He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
  • He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。
12 repeals 4232d7e213b12b8d1589335356895299     
撤销，废除( repeal的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The measure repeals a previous law that prevented local governments from targeting specific breeds for sterilization. 这项法令的出台将废止之前一项限制地方政府针对某种犬类采用绝育措施的法律。
13 oversees 4607550c43b2b83434e5e72ac137def4     
v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网
14 ratify uATzc     
v.批准，认可，追认
参考例句：
  • The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
  • The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。
15 tariff mqwwG     
n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表
参考例句：
  • There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
  • The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。
16 repealed 3d9f89fff28ae1cbe7bc44768bc7f02d     
撤销，废除( repeal的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The Labour Party repealed the Act. 工党废除了那项法令。
  • The legislature repealed the unpopular Rent Act. 立法机关废除了不得人心的租借法案。

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