31 October, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

Western governments want to cut links between the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the area's mineral exports. Both the United States and the European Union have act to tight control of minerals imports to avid fueling the conflict in eastern Congo.

The United States Congress passed the Dodd Frank Act in 2010. The law deals mainly with financial rules, but it also includes a special requirement for America listed companies. It says buyers of tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold need to show they have not support conflict in Africa's Great Lakes area.

Now, the European Union is also writing a bill to prevent deals that help provide armies in the eastern Congo.

A delegation from the European parliament has been visiting Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo to see how the proposed law would affect those countries.

Judith Sargentini is leading the delegation. She says the aim of the European law is to help break the link between the minerals trade and armed conflict.

She suggests the law will require EU companies buying minerals to prove their were mined without supporting the conflict in the Congo.

"We cannot just have the U.S. work on this issue, when we are the big trading countries with Africa, and ignore this. It will influence European companies that want to trade on the U.S. market, but besides that, more importantly, Europe has a responsibility to watch a lot of countries that are actual even former colonies," says Sargentini.

She says the bill is not a reaction to an increase in Chinese imports of these minerals by companies that are not concerned about the Dodd Frank Act.

"But I would say that European communication on trade and raw materials of course is completely influenced by the fear that Europe has, that China will buy out everything, and we don't have anything in thte future any more," says Sargentini.

Judith Sargentini says the American law reduced trade and jobs. She notes that the proposed law will not stop imports from eastern Congo. She says some imports will continue, even if the minerals were minded under what she called "bad circumstances."

Critics say the Dodd Frank Act stop trade and led to the illegal transport of minerals through nearby countries. Ms Sargentini agrees, but says the planed law should have a different effect.

She says the EU trade commissioner wants to increase trade with the Congo. She says the law will reward businesses that making Africa to trade minerals fairly and openly.

Some Congolese experts say they think the Dodd Frank Act has helped to cut the flow of money to militia leaders.

In eastern Congo, workers at the Enough Project say people have changed behaviors because of it. But the conflict minerals part of the law has yet to be enforced.

And that's the Economics Report from VOA Learning English, I'm Mario Ritter.

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

Western governments want to cut links between the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the area's mineral exports. Both the United States and the European Union have act to tight control of minerals imports to avid fueling the conflict in eastern Congo.

西方政府希望砍断刚果民主共和国东部的武装冲突和该地区矿产出口之间的联系。美国和欧盟都采取了行动严格控制矿产进口，以避免助长刚果东部的武装冲突。

The United States Congress passed the Dodd Frank Act in 2010. The law deals mainly with financial rules, but it also includes a special requirement for America listed companies. It says buyers of tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold need to show they have not support conflict in Africa's Great Lakes area.

2010年，美国国会通过了《多德·弗兰克法案》。该法案主要涉及金融规则，但它也包含了一条针对美国上市公司的特别要求。该法案声称，锡，钽，钨或黄金的买家必须表明他们没有支持非洲大湖地区的武装冲突。

Now, the European Union is also writing a bill to prevent deals that help provide armies in the eastern Congo.

现在，欧盟也在起草一项法案以防止矿产交易帮助在刚果东部地区提供武装。

A delegation from the European parliament has been visiting Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo to see how the proposed law would affect those countries.

欧盟议会的一个代表团一直在访问卢旺达布隆迪和刚果，去看看这项拟议的法案将会如何影响这些国家。

Judith Sargentini is leading the delegation. She says the aim of the European law is to help break the link between the minerals trade and armed conflict.

朱迪思·萨尔真蒂尼(Judith Sargentini)率领着这个代表团。她说，欧盟这项法案的目的是帮助打破矿产贸易和武装冲突之间的联系。

She suggests the law will require EU companies buying minerals to prove their were mined without supporting the conflict in the Congo.

她暗示该法律将要求购买矿产的欧盟公司证明他们是在没有支持刚果武装冲突的前提下开采矿产。

"We cannot just have the U.S. work on this issue, when we are the big trading countries with Africa, and ignore this. It will influence European companies that want to trade on the U.S. market, but besides that, more importantly, Europe has a responsibility to watch a lot of countries that are actual even former colonies," says Sargentini.

萨尔真蒂尼说，“我们不能光让美国处理这个问题，而我们作为同非洲贸易的大户却忽视这个问题。该法案将影响到想在美国市场交易的欧洲公司。但除此之外更重要的是，欧洲有责任照看很多实际上曾是殖民地的国家。”

She says the bill is not a reaction to an increase in Chinese imports of these minerals by companies that are not concerned about the Dodd Frank Act.

她说，该法案不是针对不顾《多德·弗兰克法案》的公司操作的中国增加进口这类矿产的一个回应。

"But I would say that European communication on trade and raw materials of course is completely influenced by the fear that Europe has, that China will buy out everything, and we don't have anything in thte future any more," says Sargentini.

萨尔真蒂尼说，“但我要说的是，欧洲在贸易和原材料上的交流完全被欧洲的担忧所影响，我们担忧中国会买光一切，而我们未来什么都没有。”

Judith Sargentini says the American law reduced trade and jobs. She notes that the proposed law will not stop imports from eastern Congo. She says some imports will continue, even if the minerals were minded under what she called "bad circumstances."

萨尔真蒂尼表示，美国的这项法案减少了贸易和就业机会。她指出，欧盟拟议的这项法案不会阻断从刚果东部的进口。她说，一些进口将会继续，即使是这些矿产是在她所谓的“糟糕环境”下开采的。

Critics say the Dodd Frank Act stop trade and led to the illegal transport of minerals through nearby countries. Ms Sargentini agrees, but says the planed law should have a different effect.

批评者表示，《多德·弗兰克法案》阻断贸易并导致矿产通过邻国非法运输。萨尔真蒂尼女士对此表示赞同，但她表示，欧盟规划中的法案会有不同的效果。

She says the EU trade commissioner wants to increase trade with the Congo. She says the law will reward businesses that making Africa to trade minerals fairly and openly.

她说，欧盟贸易专员希望增加同刚果的贸易。她说该法案将奖励使得非洲矿产贸易更公正公开的公司。

Some Congolese experts say they think the Dodd Frank Act has helped to cut the flow of money to militia leaders.

一些刚果专家表示，他们认为《多德·弗兰克法案》已经帮助削减了流向民兵领导人的资金。

In eastern Congo, workers at the Enough Project say people have changed behaviors because of it. But the conflict minerals part of the law has yet to be enforced.

在刚果东部，Enough Project的员工表示，因为该法案，人们的行为已经有所改变。但该法案的冲突矿产部分尚未实行。