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US Offers to Cut Farm Subsidies

美国贸易代表称美愿削减农业补贴

The United States says it is ready to cut its trade-distorting farm subsides to $15 billion a year in a bid to reach a global trade deal that could help boost the world economy. The offer was made on the second day of a ministerial meeting aimed at wrapping up the seven-year-old negotiation to ease trade restrictions.

持续7年之久的多哈回合谈判新一轮部长级会议星期二进行了第二天的谈判。美国高级贸易官员表示，美国准备把扭曲贸易的农业补贴削减到每年150亿美元，以促成全球贸易协议，推动世界经济发展。

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab says the proposal reflects a promise made by Washington to play a leading role in getting a trade deal done.

　

美国贸易代表施瓦布说，美国的提议说明华盛顿希望履行在多哈回合发挥带头作用的承诺。

The U.S currently has a ceiling of just over $48 billion on agricultural subsidies. But, actual support payments to farmers came to about $7 billion last year because soaring food prices meant they needed less help.

目前，美国政府粮食补贴的上限略高于480亿美元。不过，美国去年仅支付了大约70亿美元的粮食补贴，主要原因是粮食价格上涨导致美国农业不需要太多的政府扶持。

Schwab says the proposed $15 billion ceiling is $2 billion below what the United States promised a year ago. She says this offer is being made to move the negotiations forward and to conclude the talks.

施瓦布说，美国提出的把农业补贴上限削减到150亿美元的建议比一年前的计划多削减了20亿美元。她说，美国这样做是希望推进多哈回合，争取结束谈判。

"This is a major move taken in good faith with the expectation that others will reciprocate and step forward with improved offers in market access," she said. "These cuts will deliver effective and significant reductions in trade distorting domestic farm support."

施瓦布说：“这是美国基于良好意愿采取的重要步骤。我们希望其他谈判方能够依照对等原则在市场准入方面提出更为优惠的方案。美国的补贴削减计划可以有效地、显著地减少扭曲贸易的国内农业扶持。”

The talks, called the Doha Development Round, aim to make trade fairer for poor countries. The United States and European Union have been under pressure to reduce their agricultural subsidies and to cut tariffs.

世贸组织多哈发展回合的目标之一是让贫穷国家享受更为公平的贸易机制。美国和欧盟在削减农业补贴和降低关税问题上面临压力。

Developing countries say trade-distorting subsidies give the wealthy countries an unfair advantage, making it difficult for them to compete in the open market.

发展中国家认为，农业补贴为发达国家的农业部门带来了不公平的优势，使得发展中国家农业生产者很难在国际市场上与其竞争。

Wealthy countries say they are willing to cut their farm supports, but in return the poorer countries have to provide greater market access to their manufactured goods and services.

　

而富裕国家则指出，他们愿意削减农产品补贴，不过作为交换，发展中国家必须更大程度地开放制造业和服务业市场。

Schwab says the new cuts proposed by Washington would require adjustments to domestic farm programs. But, the U.S. is prepared to make those changes.

美国贸易代表施瓦布说，根据美国政府最新提出的削减农业补贴的建议，美国政府需要调整国内的农业计划。美国准备作出这些改变。

"But, we also need assurances that if our programs are going to meet these disciplines, they are then not going to be subject to legal challenges that reduce them further," said Schwab. "Now, let me say again. These reductions are not offered in isolation. They must be accompanied by significant market access, market opening in agriculture and in NAMA."

她说：“如果我们的计划达到要求的话，我们需要得到其他国家的保证，使我们确信这些计划不会受到法律挑战，也就是他们不会变本加厉地要求我们进一步削减补贴。让我再重复一遍。美国政府这次削减农产品补贴不能是孤立的行动。与之伴随的必须是有意义的市场准入，这包括农业和非农产品的市场准入。”

NAMA or Non-Agricultural Market Access Negotiation deals with a wide-range of manufactured and industrial goods.

非农产品的市场准入谈判涉及制造业和其他工业领域的多种产品。

Reaction to the U.S. proposal so far has been mixed. The European Union calls it a reasonable offer, but suggests it could go further. A Brazilian delegate says it is a nice try, but still too high.

主要谈判方对美国的提议反应不一。欧盟说这是个合理的提议，但同时建议美国做的更多。一位巴西代表说这是个有益的尝试，但是美国的农业补贴上限仍然太高。