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Jessica: Good morning, class. Today we have Professor Wilson here to tell us something about free trade.
Professor Wilson: Well, free trade means no tariffs and no quotas between countries that trade goods with one another. But, it's not only a free flow of goods. It also means the free flow of services between nations. It's a system that allows people to buy and sell whatever they desire with whomever they desire. (16) Advocates argue that total free trade will result in a net gain in wealth for both trading partners. Some of the characteristics of free trade are... uh, let me list them for you. First, the absence of tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods and services. Second is the absence of quotas and other trade barriers. Third, the free flow of labor between two trading partners. Fourth, the free flow of capital between the two trading partners. And fifth is the absence of subsidies and regulations on locally produced goods and services that give businesses in the home country an advantage over those of a foreign country. Now having said all this, keep in mind that free trade is a relatively loose term that means different things to different people. For instance, it can be any combination of these characteristics I just mentioned to you, and, typically, it's never completely 100% free. When you have a free trade agreement between two countries, there are usually some protective policies in place.
Protectionism, on the other hand, means government restraint on trade between two nations. (17) Protective trade or protective tariffs are a nation's efforts to prevent its own people from trading. Such protective measures include tariffs on imported goods and services, restrictive quotas on imported goods and services, government regulations which discourage imports, anti-dumping laws, and subsidies for local producers.
There are a number of advantages to free trade. (18) Perhaps the most important advantage of free trade is that it lowers the costs of goods and services. This is possible for a number of reasons. For example, production can take place in nations where labor and other operating costs are lower. Despite its apparent advantages, there are a number of critics of free trade. Many people prefer protectionism. And, as I mentioned a moment ago, in the real world, even when we have free trade or a free trade agreement, there's still some protectionism. Protectionists fed it's better for local consumers to pay higher prices and thereby maintain quality jobs. (19) So, protectionism protects businesses, jobs, and wages, but it also means higher prices.
16. Why do some people approve of total free trade?
17. Why does a nation impose protective tariffs?
18. What could be the most important advantage of free trade?
19. What's the benefit of protectionism?
同学们，早上好。今天由威尔逊教授给我们讲解有关自由贸易的知识。
好，自由贸易是指两个有货物往来的国家之间不收关税，没有限额。但是，它不单意味着货物的免费流通。还意味着国家之间服务的免费流通。在这种系统下，人们可以向任何人买卖任何产品。支持自由贸易的人认为绝对的自由贸易可以让交易双方都获得净利润。自由贸易的一些特点是...嗯，我来一一陈述。首先，不收关税，关税是指对进口货物和服务收税。其次是没有限额和其他贸易壁垒。第三，是交易双方之间劳动力的免费流动。第四，交易双方之间资金的免费流动。第五，对本地生产的货物及服务没有补贴和监管，这使得国内的商业比国外更具优势。已经说了这么多，要记住，自由贸易是一个相对宽松的术语，其含义因人而异。例如，它可能具有我刚才所提到的任何几种特点，而且，一般而言，它不会是100%的免费。两国之间签订自由贸易协定以后，通常还会有一些保护政策。
另一方面，贸易保护主义是指政府限制两国之间的贸易往来。贸易保护或者保护性关税是一个国家限制进口，从而保护其国内产业不受影响而采取的措施。此种保护措施包括对进口货物和服务征税、限额，限制进口的政府法规、反倾销法和对本地生产商的补贴。
自由贸易有一些优点。自由贸易最大的好处可能是它能降低货物和服务的成本。这有很多原因。比如，货物生产会出现在劳动力及其他操作成本较低的国家。尽管自由贸易优势明显，仍然有人对其不满。很多人更青睐于贸易保护主义。而且，我刚才说过的，在现实生活中，即便我们有了自由贸易或自由贸易协定，依然会有贸易保护主义。贸易保护主义者认为本国消费者购价更高会更好，这样可以维持高质量的工作。所以，贸易保护主义保护商业、工作和薪资，但这也意味着物价更高。
问题16 为什么有人支持完全自由贸易？
问题17 为什么有些国家会施行关税保护？
问题18 自由贸易最重要的好处是什么？
问题19 贸易保护主义的好处是什么？
译文属可可原创，仅供学习和交流使用，未经允许不得转载
