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Trade Talks Could Heat Up in 2015

With boosting trade a top priority for the Obama administration, 2015 may be the year that an agreement is finally reached on the Trans Pacific Partnership. But the trade deal, which is intended to boost trade between 12 Pacific countries, faces opposition.

Proposed trade deals have sparked demonstrations by labor and environmental groups, who complain few details are public, and what little is known shows the benefits of proposed trade accords helping companies, not people.

“The U.S. stands to lose jobs, see our consumer safety weakened, we stand to see the economy hurt, and public health as well. And that’s not just here, it’s globally, " said Arthur Stamoulis, who heads the Citizens Trade Campaign.

President Barack Obama says trade deals can boost the economy and add jobs. He says the tough negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership may soon pay off.

“We are optimistic about being able to get a deal done and we are re-invigorating the negotiations with the Europeans on the Transatlantic trade deal,” he said.

Trade deals are opposed by many Democrats, but Republicans generally support free trade and will have majorities in both houses of Congress in January.

Chief Editor Matthew Schewel of Inside U.S. Trade says the political climate favors trade deals - for a while.

“A lot of the countries and the United States are looking at the next year as a critical window because the following year, 2016, is when the U.S. presidential election campaigns kicks in,” he said.

TPP negotiators are still haggling over tough issues, like market access for farm products and autos.

But trade expert Jeff Schott says the TPP talks are nearly finished because trade ministers recently stepped in to solve disputes that stumped working-level diplomats.

"It [TPP] is the number one priority for trade negotiators and one can very easily be completed in the first half of 2015," he said.

A separate issue called Trade Promotion Authority is under discussion with the U.S. Congress. Under so-called "Fast Track" procedures, Congress votes either “yes” or “no” on a trade deal, but can't make any changes that would require re-negotiating the treaty.

Supporters say TPA makes it easier for the U.S. to make deals with other nations - and it may move forward soon because of Republican control of Congress.

Another proposed trade deal is between the United States and the European Union, but talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T-TIP, are at an early stage.

Opponents of T-TIP and TPP say these agreements would weaken regulations intended to protect health, safety, and labor rights. Supporters of the proposed deals say harmonizing rules makes it easier to sell products around the world.

词汇解析

delegation

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.代表团；委派；授权，委托

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Our cultural delegation met with a hearty welcome.

我们的文化代表团受到热烈欢迎。

The company is discussing about the delegation of staff to Europe.

公司正在商讨委派人员去欧洲的事宜。

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progress

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.进步；发展；前进

v.进步；发展；缓速前进；促进

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

They made slow progress towards the mountaintop.

他们向山顶缓慢地前进。

用作动词 (v.)

We are meeting again tomorrow to try and progress the matter.

我们打算明天再见面，试着推动这件事情的发展。

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fearful

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.担心的；可怕的；<口>非常的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

They were fearful that the river would flood.

他们担心河流会发洪水。

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solar

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.太阳的；太阳能的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The sun is the center of our solar system.

太阳是太阳系的中心

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utilize

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

vt.利用或使用

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

What criteria do you utilize in selecting employees?

在筛选雇员时你使用什么标准？

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conflict

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.冲突；战斗；矛盾；斗争

vi.冲突；抵触；争执

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the border armed conflict.

在这次边界武装冲突中双方都遭到了重大伤亡。

He's got involved in a political conflict he can't extricate himself from.

他陷在一场政治斗争中不能脱身。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

A careless move may well trigger an all new debate and conflict.

一不小心，还可能引发全新的争执和冲突。

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workshop

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.工场；车间；研讨会；讲习班

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The workshop has shut down and the workers are unemployed.

工厂关闭后工人失业了。

She is studying in a theatre workshop.

她正在戏剧讲习班学习。

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