VOA常速：英国脱欧谈判到最后一刻

燕山大学 刘立军 供稿

 【TRANSCRIPT】

Two-way trade between Britain and the EU is worth eight hundred and eighty five billion dollars a year. Fish make up less than half of one percent of that trade, but disagreements over fishing rights could yet torpedo any trade deal. Britain says it wants to take back control of its waters and restrict access to foreign boats that could devastate European fishing fleets. “If we can't fish in the English waters, there is no Belgian fishing anymore, because eighty percent of the time, sometimes ninety percent of the time, we fish in English waters, all the Belgian ships.” 

It may appear Britain has the upper hand, but there's a big catch. Most British-caught fish is exported to Europe, and the EU could put tariffs on those imports, hitting British fisherman hard. A trade deal is being held up by this fishing dispute, but there are also disagreements on State aid and on the system of governance that will oversee any trade deal.

With the end of the transition period just six weeks away, talks are going to the wire. “Although the deadline is the end of the year, the 31st December, when the transition period ends. You need a bit of time for ratification of any agreement.” So both sides see a breakthrough is needed in the coming days. Even if a deal is struck, Britain will still leave the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. “There’s a lot of change on the 1st of January, deal or no deal. The danger for the government is if the prime minister brings home a deal, and says this is a great deal, then he owns any disruption.” 

Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson has been hit by domestic political turmoil as two political aides have departed. Johnson is also having to self-isolate after meeting an MP who later tested positive for the coronavirus.

The EU is also disrupted by its own domestic agenda. Hungary and Poland this week vetoed an agreement on the bloc’s annual budget, and then eight hundred and eighty eight billion dollar COVID recovery fund. Analysts say there's a danger that Brexit deal could be sidelined at Thursdays summit, as the EU deals with more pressing concerns.

Henry Ridgewell for VOA news London.

【VOCABULARY】

1. torpedo v. to completely destroy the possibility that sth. could succeed 彻底破坏，完全摧毁（某事成功的可能性）。例如：Her comments had torpedoed the deal. 她的一番话使得那笔交易彻底告吹。

2. devastate v. 彻底破坏；摧毁；毁灭。例如：The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。

3. tariff n. a tax that is paid on goods coming into or going out of a country 关税

4. wire n. (PHRASE)  If something goes to the wire, it continues until the last possible moment. 到最后一刻。例如：Negotiators again worked right down to the wire to reach an agreement. 谈判人员又是直到最后时刻才达成了协议。

5. ratification n.  批准；认可

6. aide n. a person who helps another person, especially a politician, in their job （尤指从政者的）助手。例如：White House aides 白宫助理

7. veto v. to refuse to accept or do what sb. has suggested 拒不接受；反对；否定。例如：I wanted to go camping but the others quickly vetoed that idea. 我想去野营，但这个想法很快遭到了其他人的反对。

【QUESTIONS】

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Two-way trade between Britain and the EU is worth eight hundred and eighty five billion dollars a year. (Q1) __________ make up less than half of one percent of that trade, but disagreements over fishing rights could yet torpedo any trade deal. Britain says it wants to take back control of its waters and restrict access to foreign boats, that could (Q2) ________________ European fishing fleets. “If we can't fish in the English waters, there is no Belgian fishing anymore, because eighty percent of the time, sometimes ninety percent of the time, we fish in English waters, all the Belgian ships.”

It may appear Britain has the upper hand, but there's a big catch. Most British-caught fish is (Q3) ________ to Europe, and the EU could put (Q4) __________________ on those imports, hitting British fisherman hard. A trade deal is being held up by this fishing (Q5) ______________, but there are also disagreements on State aid and on the system of governance that will oversee any trade deal.

With the end of the transition period just six weeks away, talks are (Q6) _______________________. “Although the deadline is the end of the year, the 31st December, when the transition period ends. You need a bit of time for ratification of any agreement.” So both sides see a (Q7) ____________ is needed in the coming days. Even if a deal is struck, Britain will still leave the EU's Single Market and Customs Union. “There's a lot of change on the 1st of January, deal or no deal. The danger for the government is if the prime minister brings home a deal, and says this is a great deal, then he owns any disruption.”

Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson has been hit by (Q8) ___________________________ as two political aides have departed. Johnson is also having to self-isolate after meeting an MP who later tested (Q9) __________________ for the coronavirus.

The EU is also disrupted by its own domestic agenda. Hungary and Poland this week (Q10) ___________ an agreement on the bloc's annual budget, and then eight hundred and eighty eight billion dollar COVID recovery fund. Analysts say there's a danger that Brexit deal could be sidelined at Thursdays summit, as the EU deals with more pressing concerns.

Henry Ridgewell for VOA news London.

【KEY】

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Two-way trade between Britain and the EU is worth eight hundred and eighty five billion dollars a year. (Q1) Fish make up less than half of one percent of that trade, but disagreements over fishing rights could yet torpedo any trade deal. Britain says it wants to take back control of its waters and restrict access to foreign boats, that could (Q2) devastate European fishing fleets. “If we can't fish in the English waters, there is no Belgian fishing anymore, because eighty percent of the time, sometimes ninety percent of the time, we fish in English waters, all the Belgian ships.”

It may appear Britain has the upper hand, but there's a big catch. Most British-caught fish is (Q3) exported to Europe, and the EU could put (Q4) tariffs on those imports, hitting British fisherman hard. A trade deal is being held up by this fishing  (Q5)dispute, but there are also disagreements on State aid and on the system of governance that will oversee any trade deal.

With the end of the transition period just six weeks away, talks are (Q6) going to the wire. “Although the deadline is the end of the year, the 31st December, when the transition period ends. You need a bit of time for ratification of any agreement.” So both sides see a (Q7) breakthrough is needed in the coming days. Even if a deal is struck, Britain will still leave the EU's Single Market and Customs Union. “There's a lot of change on the 1st of January, deal or no deal. The danger for the government is if the prime minister brings home a deal, and says this is a great deal, then he owns any disruption.”

Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson has been hit by (Q8) domestic political turmoil as two political aides have departed. Johnson is also having to self-isolate after meeting an MP who later tested (Q9) positive for the coronavirus.

The EU is also disrupted by its own domestic agenda. Hungary and Poland this week (Q10) vetoed an agreement on the bloc's annual budget, and then eight hundred and eighty eight billion dollar COVID recovery fund. Analysts say there's a danger that Brexit deal could be sidelined at Thursdays summit, as the EU deals with more pressing concerns.

Henry Ridgewell for VOA news London.