什么是欧盟海关联盟？　What Is the EU Customs Union?

News Background　新闻导读

欧盟为世界上最大的经济体，人口近5亿，总部位于比利时首都布鲁塞尔。同时，欧盟也是世界上最有力的国际组织，在贸易、农业、金融等方面趋近于一个统一的联邦国家。欧盟共同的海关规则已超越关税同盟，随着共同关税的推行延伸到贸易政策的所有方面，如优惠贸易、卫生与环境、共同工业和渔业政策、利用非关税措施和共同的外部关系政策措施保护欧盟经济利益等。英国脱欧之后，意味着英国与其他国家的贸易协议要重新签订。

News Transcript　新闻正文

Here are fve steps to understanding the EU Customs Union.

Number one,it's the biggest customs union in the world.A customs union is a trade agreement between countries.That means no customs duties,no quotas or declarations as goods move around the member states.They collectively agree on trade deals with countries outside the union.Now,the customs union is different to the single market,which is a broader agreement to accept free movement of services,capital and people as well as goods.

Number two,the trade between member states in the EU Customs Union is as frictionless as possible.For instance,car manufacturers can import parts quickly from countries within the EU without fees and paperwork.Outside the EU Customs Union,businesses could face extra fees and border checks.So when the UK leaves it,it could slow the arrival of parts to the UK and delay production.Some say this could force frms to quit the UK,causing job losses.It could also make the price of goods more expensive if companies import goods have to pay more duty.Others say new trade deals with new partner around the world would mean more service jobs in textiles,banking and design,and cheaper prices of goods.

Number three,The UK won't be the frst European country that is outside the EU Customs Union.The 28 EU member states-including the UK-are in as well as Monaco,the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.Norway,Iceland and Liechtenstein are inside the single market and Switzerland is almost fully in it.Gibraltar and the British Overseas Territories are outside both.Then there is Turkey,Andorra and San Marino.They're outside the EU Customs Union.But they have separate customs agreements with the EU covering certain goods.

Number four,the UK wants to be outside both the single market and the EU Customs Union.It wants to avoid a UK-EU customs border so as not to have trade hindered by customs fees and paperwork.But it also wants to have the freedom to do trade deals with the rest of the world.Michel Barnier,the EU's Chef Brexit negotiator,says：“No.”The UK can't have frictionless trade if it leaves both the customs union and the single market.

Number fve,leaving the EU Customs Union could affect the UK's land border with Ireland.So when the UK leaves the EU Customs Union and Ireland remains in it,there will need to be a new border agreement.Both sides want to avoid a hard border for goods and movement.But so far,there's been no agreement on a solution.

Translaton　参考译文

五点了解欧盟海关联盟。

第一，欧盟海关联盟是世界上最大的关税联盟。海关联盟是国与国之间的贸易协定。这意味着海关联盟成员国之间的贸易往来时没有关税、不限额、不报关。他们一致同意与联盟成员国之外的国家进行贸易往来。现在，海关联盟不同于单一市场，它的贸易协议更广泛，它同意服务、资金、人员以及货物的自由流通。

第二，欧盟海关同盟成员国之间的贸易摩擦尽可能的少。例如，汽车制造商可以快速从成员国进口零件，而无须缴税和出示书面文件。而欧盟海关联盟之外的国家可能会面对缴纳额外税费和接受边境检查的情况。所以当英国脱欧后，零件抵达英国的时间变长，从而可能延误生产。一些人称可能有一些公司被迫离开英国，导致一些人失业。如果公司进口商品必须缴纳更多关税的话，也会造成商品价格增长。另一些人称，与世界其他国家的新伙伴签订贸易新协定，意味着更多纺织业、银行和设计的岗位以及更便宜的商品。

第三，英国不是第一个脱离欧盟海关联盟的欧洲国家。包括英国在内，还有摩洛哥、海峡群岛以及曼岛等28个成员国退出欧盟海关联盟。挪威、冰岛和列支敦士登属于欧洲单一市场，瑞士几乎完全脱离欧盟海关联盟。直布罗陀以及英国海外领土也退出了欧盟海关联盟。此外，土耳其、安道尔、圣马力诺也都退出了欧盟海关联盟，但是它们和欧盟涉及的特定商品有单独的关税协议。

第四，英国想要脱离单一的欧洲市场和欧盟海关联盟。它希望避免和欧盟的关税边界的冲突，以免贸易受到关税和文书工作的阻碍，但它也想要和世界其他国家进行自由的贸易往来。欧盟首席脱欧谈判员米歇尔·巴尼尔对此说“不”。如果英国同时离开欧盟海关联盟和欧洲单一市场，不可能全身而退。

第五，脱离欧盟海关同盟可能会影响英国与爱尔兰的陆地边境。所以英国退出欧盟海关联盟而爱尔兰不退出的话，那双方就需要签订一份新的边境协议且都希望避免边界商品流通的艰难局面。但是到目前为止，双方尚未就解决方案达成一致。

Listening Comprehension　听力理解

1.They collectively agree_____trade deals with countries outside the union.

A.on B.in C.with

2.Will the UK be the frst European country that is outside the EU Customs Union?

3.Which country could be affected if the UK leave the EU Customs Union?

Hot Words　新闻热词

customs union关税联盟

customs duties关税；进口税

quota[ˈkwotə]n.配额；定额；限额

declaration[dekləˈreɪʃ（ə）n]n.（纳税品等的）申报

collectively[kəˈlektivli]adv.共同地，全体地

broader[brɔːdə]adj.广大的

capital[ˈkæpɪt（ə）l]n.资金

frictionless[ˈfrɪkʃ（ə）nles]adj.无摩擦的；光滑的

paperwork[ˈpeɪpəwɜːk]n.文书

part[pɑːt]n.零件

delay[dɪˈleɪ]vt.延期；耽搁

separate[ˈsepəreɪt]vt.使分离；使分开

Listening Analysis　精彩解析

1.Now,the customs union is different to the single market,which is a broader agreement to accept free movement of services,capital and people as well as goods.

be diferent to与……不同

例句　What is essential will be different to each person.

个人所需各不同。

A continental climate is different to an insular one.

大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。

2.Number four,the UK wants to be outside both the single market and the EU Customs Union.

both and两个都；既……又……

例句　Both yellow and pink are my favorite colors.

黄色和粉色都是我喜欢的颜色。

Both Pisces and Scorpio are water signs.

双鱼座和天蝎座都是水象星座。

答案

1.A

2.No,it won't.

3.Ireland