Some lawmakers have raised major objections to the agreement, citing human rights and other concerns. But the president stressed rejecting the measure will send a bad signal to America's neighbors to the south.

一些立法者已提出了一些反对该协议的理由，如人权以及其它所涉及的内容。但总统强调拒绝实施该措施将会给美国南部邻国带去一个坏信号。

"(If) We reject this opportunity to support (a) friend with good economic policy, if we turn down this free trade agreement, it will hurt our relations in South America. It will give the (voices) of false populism something to say. It is (in) our strategic interest that we support democracies in our neighborhood."

“如果我们不使用这个机会去支持一个有着良好经济政策的朋友，如果我们拒绝这个自由贸易协定，那就会损坏我们与南美国家的关系，给虚假的民粹主义留有口舌。支持我们邻邦的民主政治才符合我们的战略利益。”

The agreement with Colombia is the first of three free trade agreements the White House wants to see clear Congress this year. The others are with Panama and South Korea.

与哥伦比亚的协定是白宫希望国会通过的三个自由贸易协定中的第一个，其它两个将与巴拿马及韩国签定。

However, the head of the Senate Finance Committee -- which handles all legislation dealing with trade -- has indicated he is (in) no rush to bring these measures up for consideration. Senator Max (Baucus), a Democrat, said the Senate must first take to help American workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign competition.

但是，负责所有贸易立法的参议院财务委员会主席表示，他不会贸然地将这些措施提到议事日程上来。民主党参议员Max Baucus称，参议院必须首先采取行动来帮助那些因为外来竞争而失业的美国工人。

posted on 2008-02-04 23:30 echo 阅读(11) 评论(0)  编辑  收藏 网摘收藏