贸易摩擦或损害美国啤酒行业
时间:2019-01-08 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(十二)月
Tariffs 2 Could Hurt US Beer Industry
Dan Katt opened his beer company, Good City Brewing 3, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2016.
At the time, it was a presidential election year. He did not think about the possibility of a trade dispute between President Donald Trump 4’s administration and China.
“I don’t think we even contemplated 6 that that administration would exist,” he told VOA.
He also did not consider that his decision to put the alcoholic 7 drink in cans instead of bottles would make his business success more difficult.
“We always planned to can our products. I don’t think we necessarily expected to have probably our single, biggest expense –packaging materials—be directly impacted by tariffs.”
Katt’s cans are made of the metal aluminum 8. He says much of his supply comes from China which faces a 10 percent tariff 1 on aluminum products.
Katt said his company usually buys 215,000 cans at a time. He said he expects to pay higher prices for cans the next time he has to order them.
The Trump administration placed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to help U.S. producers of those metals and to protect jobs in those industries. The tariffs are starting to effect many parts of the U.S. economy. That includes the growing craft beer industry because it uses aluminum for its cans.
President Trump says the tariffs are working. He has called China’s trade actions “abusive.” However, he told a large group of supporters recently that China “wants to make a deal.”
A U.S. Treasury 9 Department report supports the president’s claims. It shows that government income from tariffs this year has increased 30 percent over last year.
Brian Kuehl is the executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, a group that opposes tariffs. He disagrees with the president.
"Tariffs are taxes on American citizens. When we put tariffs on steel and aluminum, it drives up the cost of steel and aluminum in the United States,” he said.
Farmers for Free Trade has its eyes on the future of trade and is not concerned with who the president is, Kuehl said.
The group has launched a nationwide “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland” campaign. It includes an $800,000 advertising 10 campaign. The group is holding public events across the country to talk about the economic problems caused by tariffs.
At an event in Wisconsin, Dan Katt represented one of several businesses hurt by the tariffs on Chinese products.
“We don’t think that the current trade war with China is going in the right direction,” Kuehl said.
“We think it's increasing costs for U.S. manufacturers, it’s increasing costs for U.S. farmers, and it's decreasing export(s)…We’re causing long-term damage to American agriculture and our ability to compete in foreign markets,” he added.
Good City Brewing is one of about 75 beer-making companies now in Wisconsin, a state with a long history of beer production.
Katt said his company will continue to grow, with or without the tariffs. He hopes the U.S. and China can reach an agreement on trade before he must pass on the increased costs to the buyers of his product.
I’m Susan Shand.
Words in This Story
beer – n. an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops 11
contemplate 5 – v. to think deeply or carefully about (something)
expense – n. the cost of something
packaging –n. material used to enclose or contain something
tariff – n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country
craft – adj. an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands
- 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。
- British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
- The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。
- He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
- The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。
- The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了,真不堪细想。
- The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。
- The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
- Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
- The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
- During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段,它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
- Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
- The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。