word trade and economic crisis

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report. 

這裡是VOA特別英語經濟報道

The economic crisis is claiming another victim: world trade. Last month the World Bank predicted a two percent decrease this year -- the largest drop since the nineteen forties. 

世界貿易成為經濟危機的又一個受害者。上個月世界銀行預計今年世界貿易會下降2%，自19世紀40年代來最大的跌幅。

Economies that depend on exports for growth have been hit hard. Japanese exports decreased almost twenty-seven percent in November from a year earlier. Japan has the world's second largest economy. 

經濟依靠出口增長型的（國家）受影響最嚴重。日本作為世界第二大經濟體，11月出口與上一年同期萎縮將近27%。

A new report this week from China showed that its economy became the world's third largest in two thousand seven, passing Germany. China could also pass Germany as the world's biggest exporter. But Chinese exports fell almost three percent in December from a year earlier -- the sharpest drop in at least ten years. 

一項來自中國的新報告顯示2007年中國超過德國，成為世界第三大經濟體。中國同樣超過德國成為世界上最大的出口國。但是中國11月的出口與上年同期相比幾乎下降了3%，這是十年來最強烈的下降。

A story in the Chinese news magazine Outlook warned that factory closings could lead to unrest as the economy slows. 

中國新聞報紙的一則文章的觀點警示：工廠倒閉會帶來和經濟衰退同樣的社會動荡。

The latest reports show that German exports in November were down almost twelve percent from the year before. 

最近的報告顯示德國11月的出口和上一年相比幾乎下降了20%.

American exports decreased almost two percent in November from a year earlier. They were down six percent from October -- but imports were down twelve percent. That reduced the monthly trade deficit to the lowest level in five years. 

美國11月的出口和上一年相比幾乎下降了2%，和月相比下降了6%，但是進口下降了12%。這使每月貿易逆差降低到了5年來的最低水平。

Credit has improved in some cases since the financial crisis worsened in September. But falling demand, including reduced demand for oil, has cut trade around the world. The International Monetary Fund recently called for government spending, tax cuts and international cooperation to support growth. 

從9月經濟危機以來銀行貸款提高

To ease credit, the Bank of England last week reduced its main interest rate to one and one-half percent -- its lowest ever. The bank was established in sixteen ninety-four. Britain's economy may have shrunk by one percent just in the final three months of last year. The first estimates are expected at the end of January. 

为更容易贷款，英格兰银行上周降低主要利率到1%和1.5%，这是历史最低。英格兰银行成了于1694年，仅仅和去年第四季度相比英国的经济缩水了1%。（今年）的估算将于1月末公布。

This week, Germany's coalition government agreed to an economic aid package worth about sixty-seven billion dollars. The two-year plan calls for spending on public works and a tax cut for low-income Germans. Critics considered an earlier measure too small to fight the recession in Europe's largest economy. 

本周德国联邦政府通过了一项高达670亿美元的经济援救计划。这项长达两年的计划用于公共事业和降低低收入德国人的税额。评论家认对欧洲最大的经济体的经济衰退来说这显得太早、太微弱。

Aides to President-elect Barack Obama have been negotiating with Congress on a two-year recovery plan for the world's largest economy. On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York suggested that the price could reach eight hundred fifty billion dollars. 

当选总统奥巴马的助手已经在和国会谈判一项为期两年的振兴世界上最大经济体的计划。星期三，纽约的民主党参议员Charles Schumer暗示（援助计划)的金额应该达到8500亿美元。