VOA标准英语2012--Easing Burma Sanctions Draws Interest of US Business
时间：2018-12-08 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(十一月)
Easing Burma Sanctions Draws Interest of US Business
The United States suspended the restrictions 1 on imports from Burma just ahead of President Obama's trip.
"America is lifting our ban on companies doing business here, and your government has lifted restrictions on investment and taken steps to open up your economy," said Obama. "And now, as more wealth flows into your borders, we hope and expect that it will lift up more people."
But sanctions against Burmese jade 2 and rubies 3, considered the world's finest, are still in place.
Members of Burma's previous military government and their cronies still profit from the gem 4 industry that remains 5 tainted 6 by its record using forced labor 7 and children.
Gem mine owner and dealer 8 Aung Kyaw Zin claims labor abuses are a thing of the past and argues U.S. restrictions fail to curb 9 the trade in jade while unfairly hurting family-owned businesses like his.
"Jade is especially for the China market, there is no American market," he said. "So, the current sanctions are not effective on the jade market and business. Ninety-five percent of [precious stone] annual profits, $2 billion to $3 billion, are from jade selling. The profit from gems 10, like ruby 11 and sapphire 12, selling are less than 5 percent [of the precious stone total]. Therefore, sanctions only affect gem & colored stone dealers 13."
Despite lingering concerns over labor practices, there are already signs the stigma 14 of doing business in Burma is fading and American companies are moving in.
Thaw 15 Tin says his company plans to open two more shops exclusively selling Apple products.
He says despite import problems American brands are well known. "It's just a matter of how much we can import in and how many we can get them on shelf," he noted 16. "They just move by itself."
Major U.S. investors 17 are also eyeing Burma's markets for opportunities, but are proceeding 18 cautiously.
YGA Capital Managing Director Thura Ko Ko is advising the largest U.S. equity 19 firm in the world.
"Sanctions can be lifted or waived 20 or suspended within a very short time," he explained. But, if you cannot wire dollars over, if you cannot convert easily, if you cannot wire funds outside, I think you'll still see challenges in the pace of foreign investment."
President Barack Obama's unprecedented 21 visit underscored the potential the U.S. sees in Burma.
But his reception here also demonstrated the potential that Burma, long reliant on neighbors China and Thailand, sees in the U.S.
- 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
- The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
- He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。
- a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
- The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
- The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
- The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
- The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
- He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
- The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
- The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
- I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
- You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。
- a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
- The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。
- She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
- On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
- Now let us consider crystals such as diamond or sapphire.现在让我们考虑象钻石和蓝宝石这样的晶体。
- He left a sapphire ring to her.他留给她一枚蓝宝石戒指。
- There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
- The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。
- Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
- The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。
- The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
- The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
- This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
- The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
- They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
- To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。
- 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
- The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
- A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。