Trump's tariff policy sword with double edge
特朗普的关税政策是一把双刃剑
As Donald Trump is (1) ______ (set) to be sworn in as the US president for a second time and considering the partisan nature of US politics, many observers are wondering what the new Trump administration's China trade policy will be.
The US' trade relations with China have always been influenced by the administration's (2) ______ (perceive) of the Sino-US relationship. It was during Trump's previous term that the US started to regard China as a rival which has both the will and ability to challenge American interests globally and (3) ______ (characterize) Sino-US relations as strategic competition.
Therefore, the long-term trend of the US' economic and trade policies will be to meet Washington's needs in its strategic competition against Beijing.
In this situation, regardless of whether Trump, like some of his close aides, is (4) ______ (obsess) with anti-China ideology, the incoming US administration's view of bilateral relations won't change.
Another factor that will shape the US administration's China policy is Trump's sense of history and (5) ______ (accountable) to voters. While Trump may be inclined to keep the promises he made during the presidential campaign, as a US president approaching his 80s, he might be eager to leave a “good” political legacy.
Intensifying the trade war against China under the pretext of reducing the huge trade imbalance between China and the US could serve him well in this regard. The huge trade deficit in the US is what led Trump to launch the trade war in 2018 (6) ______ (one). However, the US' trade deficit with China has further increased in recent years due to high economic interdependence. In 2023, China's surplus in goods trade was $608 billion, the second-highest in history. For a businessman-turned politician with a mercantile mindset, such a huge trade deficit is a (7) ______ (thorn) in the flesh.
It's clear that trade policies between countries can have a big impact on bilateral relations. Both sides need to communicate and negotiate to find a (8) ______ (balance) solution.
Moreover, understanding each other's positions and interests is (9) ______ (importance) for promoting healthy trade relations.
Hopefully, through joint efforts, the two countries can avoid unnecessary conflicts and work towards a more (10) ______ (favorable) trade environment.
答案:
set(考查固定搭配,“be set to do sth.” 表示 “准备做某事”,考查固定搭配的用法)
perception(考查词性转换,“the administration's” 后接名词,“perceive” 的名词形式是 “perception”,表示 “看法,认知”,考查词性转换)
characterized(考查动词时态,此处与 “regard” 并列,作句子的谓语动词,且描述过去的动作,用一般过去时,考查一般过去时的用法及并列结构中动词形式的一致性)
obsessed(考查固定搭配,“be obsessed with...” 表示 “痴迷于……”,考查固定搭配的用法)
accountability(考查词性转换,“and” 连接并列的名词,“accountable” 的名词形式是 “accountability”,表示 “责任,义务”,考查词性转换及并列结构中词性的一致性)
first(考查固定短语,“in the first place” 表示 “起初,首先”,考查固定短语的用法)
thorn(考查词性运用,“a thorn in the flesh” 是固定短语,意为 “眼中钉,肉中刺”,考查固定短语中名词的用法)
balanced(考查词性转换,“solution” 是名词,需用形容词修饰,“balance” 的形容词形式是 “balanced”,表示 “平衡的”,考查词性转换)
important(考查词性转换,“is” 是系动词,后接形容词作表语,“importance” 的形容词形式是 “important”,表示 “重要的”,考查词性转换及系表结构中词性的运用)
favorable(考查词性转换,“environment” 是名词,需用形容词修饰,“favorable” 表示 “有利的”,考查词性转换)
In fact, during his election campaign, Trump promised to (1) ______ (impose) up to 60 percent tariffs on all imports from China once in office. If he really does so, it might help him “keep his word” but will actually harm US consumers by making US inflation (2) ______ (bad).
Since the Republican Party won the majority seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in November, it wouldn't be (3) ______ (surprise) to see Trump use his influence within the party and Congress to push forward a legislative measure, similar to the US Tariff Act of 1930, in order to leave his trade legacy.
Another factor is that US domestic laws offer the necessary support or “ammunition” for the Trump administration to introduce new and more (4) ______ (drastic) trade measures against other countries. Besides antidumping and countervailing measures that can be easily applied to imports from other countries, the Trump administration may also use measures under Section 301 to deal with so-called unfair trade practices, Section 232 to handle self-perceived national security threats and Section 201 to meet global safeguard (5) ______ (need).
Moreover, it can use the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 to screen foreign investment in the US, and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to prevent the (6) ______ (export) of targeted technology to certain countries. It can also make use of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act to build barriers, (7) ______ (deny) targeted countries access to advanced technologies and products.
All these actions show that trade policies can have a significant impact on international relations. It's essential for countries to communicate and negotiate to avoid unnecessary (8) ______ (conflict).
By understanding each other's positions and interests, countries can work towards a more (9) ______ (harmony) trade environment.
Hopefully, through joint efforts, the global trade situation can become more stable and countries can achieve mutual (10) ______ (benefit).
答案:
impose(考查固定搭配,“promise to do sth.” 表示 “承诺做某事”,此处用动词原形,考查固定搭配中动词的形式)
worse(考查形容词比较级,根据语境与之前情况对比,用比较级形式,“make + 宾语 + 形容词比较级” 表示 “使…… 更……”,考查形容词比较级的用法)
surprising(考查词性转换,“be” 后接形容词作表语,“surprise” 的形容词形式有 “surprising”,表示 “令人惊讶的”,考查词性转换及系表结构中词性的运用)
drastic(考查词性,此处 “more” 修饰形容词原级,共同构成比较级的形式,“drastic” 为形容词,考查形容词比较级中形容词原级的运用)
needs(考查名词单复数,“meet one's needs” 表示 “满足某人的需求”,常用复数形式,考查名词复数在固定短语中的用法)
exportation(考查词性转换,“the” 后接名词,“export” 的名词形式还可以是 “exportation”,表示 “出口”,考查词性转换)
denying(考查非谓语动词,此处用现在分词作伴随状语,“deny” 与主语 “it”(指代前面提到的相关主体)是主动关系,考查非谓语动词作状语的用法)
conflicts(考查名词单复数,“unnecessary” 后接名词复数形式表示 “不必要的冲突”,考查名词复数的用法)
harmonious(考查词性转换,“environment” 是名词,需用形容词修饰,“harmony” 的形容词形式是 “harmonious”,表示 “和谐的”,考查词性转换)
benefits(考查名词单复数,“mutual” 后接名词复数形式表示 “共同的利益”,考查名词复数的用法)
In fact, the incoming Trump administration might adopt a (1) ______ (treacherous) trade policy.
However, even US economists have criticized the justifications for tariff hikes as being (2) ______ (exaggerate), unsubstantiated and logically flawed. Actually, the tariffs didn't manage to boost US manufacturing. (3) ______ (instead), they led to a net loss of jobs.
If the US relies too much on tariffs, it could cause living costs to rise and inflationary pressures to increase, which will finally (4) ______ (jeopardize) the overall health of the US economy.
It's clear that trade policies have a huge impact on a country's economic situation. A wise decision should be made after careful (5) ______ (consider).
The US president-elect needs to think twice before making any decisions. He should take into account various factors, (6) ______ (include) the impact on domestic industries and consumers.
Moreover, maintaining good economic relations with other countries is also of great (7) ______ (importance). Unreasonable trade policies may damage these relations and bring negative effects to both sides.
In the global economic stage, cooperation and mutual benefit are the keys to (8) ______ (sustainable) development.
By communicating and negotiating with other countries, the US can seek better solutions instead of simply imposing tariffs. This will help create a more (9) ______ (stable) economic environment.
Hopefully, the US can make rational choices and contribute to the healthy development of the global economy, thus bringing more (10) ______ (benefit) to its own people and the international community.
答案:
more treacherous(考查形容词比较级,“even” 常修饰比较级,“treacherous” 是多音节形容词,比较级形式是 “more treacherous”,考查形容词比较级的构成及用法)
exaggerated(考查词性转换,“being” 后接形容词作表语,“exaggerate” 的形容词形式是 “exaggerated”,表示 “夸大的”,考查词性转换及系表结构中词性的运用)
Instead(考查副词,此处表示转折,用 “Instead”,在句中作状语,考查副词的用法及对上下文逻辑关系的体现)
jeopardize(考查动词形式,“will” 后接动词原形构成一般将来时,考查一般将来时中动词的形式)
consideration(考查词性转换,“after” 是介词,后接名词作宾语,“consider” 的名词形式是 “consideration”,表示 “考虑”,考查词性转换及介词后宾语的词性要求)
including(考查非谓语动词,“including” 在此处是介词,意为 “包括”,用于对前面内容进行补充说明,考查非谓语动词作介词的用法)
importance(考查词性转换,“of” 后接名词,“be of + 名词” 相当于 “be + 形容词”,“importance” 表示 “重要性”,考查词性转换及固定结构中词性的运用)
sustainable(考查词性转换,“development” 是名词,需用形容词修饰,“sustainable” 表示 “可持续的”,考查词性转换)
stable(考查词性转换,“environment” 是名词,需用形容词修饰,“stable” 表示 “稳定的”,考查词性转换)
benefits(考查名词单复数,“more” 后接名词复数形式表示 “更多的利益”,考查名词复数的用法)