A PASSAGE 1: According to US Trade
Representative Robert B. Zoellick, the ambitious US proposal for worldwide zero
tariffs is comprehensive, and would benefit both developed and developing
nations. The proposal, said Zoellick, when combined with the
far-reaching US agricultural reform proposal submitted to the WTO in July, would
eliminate tariffs on the nearly ＄6 trillion in annual world goods trade, lifting
the economic fortunes of workers, families, businesses, and consumers.
"Our proposal would turn every corner store in America into a duty-free
shop for working families," said Zoellick. "This historic proposal would benefit
the average American family with an extra ＄1,600 a year, while also removing
high foreign tariff barriers on more than ＄670 billion in US industrial and
consumer goods exports. Globally, tariff-free trade could help lift millions of
people in developing countries out of poverty." "President Bush
believes that American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses must have more
than just the ability to compete globally, they must also have the opportunity
to do so," said US Commerce Secretary Don Evans. "This proposal says that ’no
one wins unless we all win’ and ensures a level playing field for America’s
goods and ingenuity to compete fairly around the world." B PASSAGE 2: The US proposal envisions a
two-step approach to eliminating tariffs on a full-range of consumer and
industrial goods ranging from women’s shoes, to tractors, to children’s
toys. First, WTO members would be required to cut and harmonize
their tariffs in the five year period from 2005 to 2010. Specifically, WTO
members would eliminate all tariffs at or below 5 percent by 2010, cut all other
tariffs through a "tariff equalizer" formula to less than 8 percent by 2010, and
eliminate tariffs in certain highly traded industry sectors as soon as possible,
but not later than 2010. Next, all WTO members would make equal
annual cuts in remaining tariffs between 2010 and 2015. These cuts would result
in zero tariffs. The proposal also calls for a separate program to identify
and eliminate non-tariff barriers, which would run on a parallel track with the
negotiations on industrial tariffs. The US will put forward an initial list of
such barriers in January of 2003.
C PASSAGE 3: According to the Office of US Trade
Representative (USTR), eliminating US tariffs would significantly benefit US
families and consumers through lower import taxes and a more competitive
economy. Hidden import taxes cost American consumers ＄18 billion in 2001, alone.
USTR contends that duty-free trade would eliminate these hidden costs and lower
prices for consumers. While this proposal would offer substantial benefits to
all Americans, it would particularly help low-income families. A recent study by
the Progressive Policy Institute found that cutting US import taxes especially
benefits single-parent, low-income families, who typically pay a higher
proportion of their income on import taxes than other households. A study done
by the University of Michigan found that the US economy would expand by ＄95
billion as a result of tariff-free trade--contributing to job-creation and
higher wages. The University of Michigan study also revealed: The elimination of
industrial tariffs by other countries could increase US exports by ＄83 billion
annually highly-traded goods exports, such as chemicals, paper, and scientific
equipment, which are targeted in the US proposal for total tariff elimination,
account for 60 percent of all US exports. Estimates by the World
Bank project that tariff-free global trade would result in a worldwide income
gain of ＄832 billion from trade in all goods including agriculture, of which
＄539 billion (65 percent) would flow to developing countries. Representing an
income increase of about ＄544 for a family of four, the World Bank estimates
that free trade in goods and services could help lift 300 million people out of
poverty-- a number greater than the entire population of the United
States. D PASSAGE
4: The reduction and elimination of tariffs on consumer and industrial goods
is a component of the WTO negotiations launched in Doha, Qatar in 2001 to be
completed by January 1, 2005. Throughout the year, United States
leadership has continued to spur momentum on the Doha Development Agenda in the
WTO: ·On July 1, the United States announced proposals for
liberalizing global trade in services, designed to remove foreign barriers in
areas such as financial services, telecommunications, and environmental
services. ·On August 9, the United States submitted a proposal
to expand transparency and public access to World Trade Organization dispute
settlement proceedings. The proposal would open WTO dispute settlement
proceedings to the public for the first time and give greater public access to
briefs and panel reports. ·On October 17, the United States
submitted a paper highlighting the importance of strengthening transparency and
due process in the application of trade remedies (antidumping, subsidies, and
safeguard actions). It addresses the basic concepts and principles of the trade
remedy rules against unfair trade, and the importance of tackling the
trade-distorting practices that are frequently the root causes of unfair trade.
The US also submitted a paper presenting a number of ideas and recommendations
for addressing trade- and market-distorting practices in the steel
sector. ·the US will propose tariff-cutting in two phases
71. ______ ·how a duty-free world would help US consumers
72. ______ ·the proposal could
averagely save a US family ＄1,600 a year
73. ______ ·the US will submit an initial list of
non-tariff barriers
74. ______ ·the procedure of the tariff-free proposal
arranged through the whole year 75. ______ ·tariff-free
world trade could help lift millions of people out of
76. ______ poverty in the world
77. ______ ·the US put forward a
paper about reasons of unfair trade
78. ______ ·the US has called on the WTO
to eliminate all tariffs on consumer
79. ______ and industrial goods worldwide
80.
______