largest trade deal in history, also known as the TPP. There are so many little points

最大型的貿易關係，也稱作TPP。這項協定中有太多細節

to negotiate that talks have been ongoing for over ten years. The 12 countries involved

需要討論，因此擬定的時間超過十年之久。參與協定的12個成員國

are looking to strengthen their economies by linking them together. And they’re already

期望能藉由此協定鞏固彼此關係，從而強化經濟實力。這些成員國

pretty strong, accounting for a combined 40% of global GDP.

佔全球GDP的40%，已經很有影響力了

If it goes into full effect, it will build on and supersede a network of past trade deals,

一但此協定生效，將在原有貿易關係基礎上實行，從而取代

like the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

如加、美、墨之間的北美自由貿易協定等過去貿易關係

Trade between nations will be boosted by eliminating many tariffs and other methods countries often

由於取消關稅和其他國家通常用以保護國內產業面受國外產業競爭的方法

use to protect domestic industries from outside competition. Examples of protected markets

國家間的貿易往來將大幅增加。受保護的市場例子有

are beef and cars in Japan, the dairy and sugar industries in the United States, and

日本的牛肉和汽車、美國的乳製品和糖產業

state-owned enterprises like Chile’s largest copper company and the Vietnamese telecommunication service.

還有國營企業，如智利最大的銅公司和越南的通信業者

Along with eliminating barriers to trade, to create a fair playing field for competing

連同消除貿易關稅，以為競爭產業創造公平的市場為目的

businesses, all countries involved will have to meet certain negotiated standards, like

所有成員國都將協商某些統一標準

environmental protections that ban trading in endangered species and illegal logging,

像是禁止瀕臨絕種之物種的貿易還有非法筏木這類環境保護措施

or enhanced labor standards like the right to form a union, the abolition of child labor,

或者提高勞工權益標準，例如組成工會的權力、禁用童工

and banning workplace discrimination.

還有禁止職場歧視

The Obama administration is incentivizing governments to create more responsible social

歐巴馬政府鼓勵各國政府創造更負責的社會政策

policies in exchange for stronger economic ties with America and some of its closest

來應對同美國和某些貿易關係密切國家地區逐日緊密的

trading partners.

經濟關係

At home, Obama has received pushback from Democrats in Congress concerned the deal would

在國內，歐巴馬在議會上受到民主黨的反對，他們擔心這項協定將

be bad for American workers. They want guarantees the US will enforce rules preventing foreign

對美國勞工造成負面影響。他們希望美國政府能加強某些規定來防止

companies from flooding the US market with goods and services that undercut products

外國公司的商品和服務湧入美國市場並打擊

made in the good ‘ole USofA.

美國製造的商品

Another big criticism is that certain proposed patent and copyright rules in the deal could

另一個爭論較大的議題是協定中提出的某些專利及著作權的規定可能

keep the cost of medicine around the world higher than it should be.

會導致全球藥物的價格持續比原本的更高

Some say the North American agreement negotiated by President Clinton resulted in the loss

有些人認為柯林頓總統談成的北美協定內容導致美國國內

of hundreds of thousands of American jobs. That may be true, but in the six years after

成千上萬的失業人口。這可能是真的，但在北美自由貿易協定（NAFTA ）頒布之後

NAFTA was enacted, the United States created 2 million jobs each year. It seems NAFTA helped

六年內，美國國內每年有2百萬個工作機會。北美自由貿易協定似乎幫助

retool the US economy to produce more higher value goods and services, and that the TPP

振興美國經濟以製造更高價值的商品及服務，而TPP也

would continue this trend.

打算繼續這樣的做法

And by opening new international markets to service and high tech businesses in the United

透過對美國的服務和高科技產業開啟新的國際市場

States, already a huge source of private job growth in the US economy should see even

美國經濟已經可見非常大量的工作成長

more expansion.

未來應有可觀的發展

Projections have the TPP increasing American economic output by more than 100 billion dollars

計劃顯示TPP會帶動美國經濟輸出量成長到一年一百億美元

a year. But more money, more problems. One of the biggest challenges has been to make sure

但錢越多，問題越多。其中一項最大的挑戰就是確保

income gains through globalization are spread to all Americans, instead of the top, investing

全球收入落實到全部美國人收中，而非社會頂端或

class.

投資階級人士

The elephant in the room of this is China, which isn’t involved in the talks. That’s

大家都知道但不想提起的是未參與這項協定的中國。這是

because one of the main objectives of the deal is to offset the power of China by strengthening

因為這項協定主要目標之一就是藉由美北與中國周邊某些國家的合作

North America’s connection to several of China’s neighbors.

來抵制中國的經濟力量

The deal has been crafted in a way to eventually include others like South Korea, Indonesia,

這項協定歷經許久的研討制定，最終參與的國家為南韓、印度

and the Philippines, Taiwan, Laos, Columbia and Thailand.

菲律賓、台灣、寮國、哥倫比亞和泰國

But until then, an initial agreement still must be finalized among the first 12 countries

但目前仍需要先在創始12個會員國之間達成共識

involved, with the legislature of each country needing to pass a vote to accept the TPP’s

每個國家都需在國會舉行投票以表示同意TPP

terms and ratify their membership.

並認可自己國家的會員國身分

If successful, a TransAtlantic Partnership with the Europeans would follow. That could

如果這項協定成功簽訂，歐洲國家參與的跨大西洋戰略夥伴協定也會跟進。這可能會

boost US-EU trade by more than 50%.

將美歐貿易提升到超過50%

Thanks for watching. If you learned a bit about the TPP, hit that like button to help

感謝收看。如果你已經對TPP有點了解了，按個讚並幫忙

share this video with others like you.

將影片分享給其他跟你一樣需要了解TPP的人

You can watch more TDC such as our ranking of the 10 best presidents in American history

你還可以看看我們TDC的其他影片，例如歷史上前十名最好的美國總統排行榜

or our video comparing the Parliamentary and Presidential forms of government.

或議會政府與總統政府形式比較

And if you want to learn a lot more about economics and wealth inequality around the

如果你還想要更了解有關世界經濟或貧富不均

world, a great place to start would be with the audiobook “Capital in the Twenty-First

Thomas Piketty的有聲書「21世紀的資本主義」

Century,” by economist Thomas Piketty. Follow the link below to download this book for free

是很好的開始。點選以下連結並加入會員即可享有Audible.com的30天試用期

by signing up for a 30-trial at Audible.com.

並免費下載這本書

Until next time, for TDC, I’m Bryce Plank. This video was edited by Brendan Plank.

我是Bryce Plank，這部影片由 Brendan Plank編輯製作