Passage 1

By 1991 the level of foreign indebtedness has drastically altered the role that many developing countries play in the world trading system. Imports had been severely cut back and there was evidence of a scramble to export additional products, such as timber(木材), at heavy cost to the environment. Debt had emerged as the biggest single obstacle to development, with about 50 developing countries carrying a severe debt burden, over half of them in Africa.At the end of 1990, developing countries owed $1,280 billion to Western countries, international aid agencies, the IMF, and banks. Their yearly earnings from international trade were under $1,000 billion; the overall debt of developing countries was therefore more than the value of their exports. To service that debt—to pay interest and repay part of the capital—cost developing countries $143. 5 billion in 1990. They received $85 billion in aid and investment from abroad, thus paying richer countries nearly $60 billion more than they receive D. New aids and investment was wiped out by past debt. In 1991, according to OCED figures, the severely indebted low-income countries paid a higher proportion of their export revenue on debt service than at any time during the 1980s—31. 3% of such revenues, compared with 23. 8% in the 1980s.

Developing countries export timber in order to pay the debt.

America usually adopts protectionism only when its economy slows.

In matters relating to the environment, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, produced an “Earth Charter,” or declaration of basic principles for the conduct of nations and peoples with respect to environment and development; agreements on special legal measures, including conventions on climate change and biodiversity, and principles for a framework agreement on forests; and an agenda for action, establishing the environmental work program agreed by the international community for the period beyond 1992 and into the 21th century.

Freer trade requires both political and business support.

According to the author, the biggest beneficiaries would be consumers in the United States.

Protectionist has been increasing not only in the United States but also in other countries.

Passage 2

America’s trade deficit has rocketed to a record high, provoking squeals from companies and politicians alike. There is even talk among officials of reviving the unilateral battering ram(杀手锏) known as “Super 301”, the cause of much trade friction in the past. Since protectionism is on the up even in an American boom, the rest of the world could be in for a mauling(伤害) when that economy eventually slows. Other countries are also becoming more protectionist. Following the American lead, European and Canadian steel makers have launched a barrage of “anti-dumping” cases against imports they deem too cheap. Anti-dumping suits are also proliferating in Asia and Latin America. Brazil, Russia and China have all recently tightened their import controls.What can be done to limit the damage? For a start, rather than undermining the WTO, America and Europe should collaborate to improve its working. They should also keep their markets open to imports. Do not look on this as an act of charity. True, trade world help drag Asia and Latin America out of dumps, but the biggest beneficiaries would be American and European consumers—and, loath(勉强的) though the unions are to believe it, jobs on both continents, To argue this takes political backbone, which has been lacking in America and Europe of late. All the more reason for America and Europe to support a new round of trade-liberalization talks at the WTO.

America’s deficit has been controlled to a record low.

Heavy debt burden has greatly blocked economy growth of the developing countries.

The passage mainly tells about the ways to help developing countries repay their debts without affecting their economy.

Debt problems are especially severe in Africa.

In some developing countries half of the export revenue is used to service the debt.