11-14-2005

美貿易代表促北京助打破世貿農業爭端 (U.S. Trade Envoy Urges Beijing to Help Solve WTO Agriculture Dispute)

美國貿易代表波特曼說，中國應該利用做為主要貿易大國的地位幫助打破有關世界貿易組織農業政策談判的僵局。波特曼星期一在北京說，中國應該更加積極地就下個月世貿組織如何在香港召開的會議之前達成一致提出建議。

由於在農業政策方面存在分歧，世貿組織貿易自由化談判從2003年以來基本處於僵局。波特曼還說，他要求中國官員在向美國產品開放市場方面取得更快進展，同時更加努力地杜絕非法錄製音樂、影視作品以及其他侵犯知識產權的行為。

The United States Trade Representative Rob Portman says China should use its status as a major trading power to help break the deadlock concerning World Trade Organization (WTO) agriculture policies. Speaking Monday in Beijing, Rob Portman said China should be more aggressive in suggesting how the WTO could reach a consensus ahead of next month's WTO meeting in Hong Kong.

WTO negotiations on trade liberalization have been largely deadlocked since 2003 due to the disagreement over agriculture policy. Portman also said he pressed Chinese officials to make faster progress in opening their markets to imports from the United States and to work harder to stamp out the illegal copying of music, movies and other intellectual property.

法政府批准延長緊急狀態(French Government Approves Extending Emergency Measures)

法國內閣部長星期一批准把緊急狀態延長3個月。實行緊急狀態是為了結束法國近3個星期來的一系列暴力和縱火事件。內閣批准後，該議案現在必須送交法國議會審議。上星期宣佈實行的緊急狀態將於下星期天結束。當局說，自從宣佈緊急狀態後，各地暴力開始減少，所以政府官員決定將緊急狀態予以延長。緊急狀態給予地方政府實行宵禁等其他安全措施的權力。

警方說，星期天夜裏在圖盧茲有零星騷亂，但是巴黎局勢平靜。里昂等其他騷亂最為嚴重的城市也比較平靜。大部份動髮發生在貧窮的郊區，那裏聚集了對社會環境不滿的穆斯林青少年。

French cabinet ministers approved Monday a three-month extension of a state of emergency enacted to help end a wave of rioting and arson attacks that has gripped the country for nearly three weeks. After the approval by the cabinet, the measure must now go to parliament for consideration. The state of emergency declared last week is due to expire next Sunday. Officials decided to extend it after authorities said violence across the country has decreased since it was put in place. The emergency status gives local officials the power to impose curfews and other security measures.

Overnight, police say there were some isolated incidents of unrest in the city of Toulouse, but the capital, Paris, was quiet. Most of the unrest has taken place in poor suburban areas where Muslim youths are angry about social conditions.