Trade Ministers Aim for Agreement as Doha Development Round Begins
世贸部长级会议开幕推动多哈谈判
The Head of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, says a successful outcome of the Doha Development Round will help blunt many of the economic threats in the world. Lamy made his remarks at the opening of a ministerial summit aimed at wrapping up world trade talks.
世界贸易组织的部长级会议星期一在日内瓦开幕。这次会议的目的是完成多哈回合谈判。世贸组织总干事拉米说，旨在扩大全球自由贸易的多哈回合取得成功将有助于抵挡世界面临的很多经济威胁。
About 30 trade ministers are in Geneva for what is seen as a make-or-break meeting. After seven years of negotiations, the ministers hope to conclude an agreement, which will make trade fairer and boost economic growth.
世界贸易组织大约30个主要成员的贸易部长们在日内瓦开始了这次被看作是成败攸关的高峰会。经过长达七年的艰苦谈判，这些部长们都希望最后达成协议，促进公平贸易，推动经济增长。
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy says there has been enough foot-dragging. He says now it is time for action.
世贸组织总干事拉米表示，多哈回合已经拖延得太久了。现在已经到了采取行动的时候了。
"The time has come to move from discussions to negotiations," Lamy said. "We have talked the talk. We now have to walk the walk to finish the round."
他说：“事到如今，我们应该从讨论转向谈判了。我们已经说得够多了。我们现在必须拿出行动来完成多哈回合。”
Lamy says the WTO's 153 member states are within reach of achieving an agreement. He says with patience and determination this can happen. He says he can think of no stronger spur for action than the threats facing the world economy.
拉米指出，对于世界贸易组织的153个成员来说，达成协议其实已经指日可待。只要我们有耐心、有决心，我们就能胜利完成谈判。他表示，世界经济目前正面临严重威胁，还有什么比这一点更使我们感到刻不容缓呢？
He says the rising cost of food, the high energy prices and turbulence in the financial markets should be reason enough for governments to conclude a trade deal.
拉米说，食品价格暴涨、能源价格飙升、金融市场动荡，这些原因应该足以促使各国政府达成一项自由贸易协议。
"There is widespread recognition that a balanced outcome of the Doha Round could in these circumstances provide a strong push to stimulate economic growth, " Lamy noted, "providing better prospects for development and ensuring a stable and more predictable trading system."
他说：“广泛的共识是：多哈回合取得一个平衡的结果，会在目前这种状况下，强有力地推动和刺激经济增长，为经济发展提供一个更好的前景，确保我们建立一个更加稳定可靠的贸易系统。”
Some economists say a Doha deal could boost the world economy by nearly $50 billion a year. But before that point can be reached, key issues remain to be resolved.
有些经济学家认为，多哈回合取得成功可以使世界经济每年增加差不多500亿美元。但是要想达到这一点，还有不少关键的问题需要解决。
Developing countries are pushing for rich countries to make deep cuts in farm subsidies and tariffs. The rich nations want the developing countries to cut tariffs on industrial goods and services.
发展中国家要求富裕国家大幅度削减农业补贴和农产品关税。富裕国家则要求发展中国家减少针对工业产品和服务的关税。
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab says Washington is committed to the outcome of this round and will continue to be a leader. But, she adds, other countries also must be willing to contribute more.
美国贸易代表施瓦布表示，华盛顿有决心促使这次谈判取得预期的成果，而且会继续发挥领导作用。但是她补充说，其他国家也应当做出更多的贡献。
"To have a meaningful development outcome to this round ... we know that we have to secure meaningful new market access in agriculture, in manufacturing and in services," Schwab said. "And, that is particularly true when it comes to the interests of the developing countries involved and of the rapidly emerging markets that are so key to this negotiation in terms of their involvement and in terms of the contribution that they can make to a successful outcome."
施瓦布说：“我们知道，要使这次谈判取得有意义的成果，我们就必须在农业、制造业和服务业方面确保有意义的新的市场准入。不言而喻，这对于那些相关的发展中国家和快速发展的新兴市场来说，更是利益攸关，因为不论是从它们的参与来看，还是从它们的贡献来看，它们都是这次谈判的关键，它们能够使多哈回合取得一个成功的结果。”
But many analysts say they are not sure U.S. negotiators can deliver on a trade deal in the final months of the Bush administration. They note the so-called fast-track authority that allowed the White House to call for a straight up-or-down vote on trade pacts expired more than a year ago.
然而很多分析人士表示，在布什政府任期的最后几个月，美国谈判人员在一套新的贸易协议上能够有多少作为，实在很难说。专家指出，所谓的快速审批权，也就是白宫可以要求国会对贸易协议直截了当地批准或否决而不进行任何修改的权力，已经在一年多之前就过期了。
