Text 2
American hopes that pressure from the U.S. will force Japan to suddenly dismantle its trade barriers are almost certain to evaporate in disappointment. The fact is that Washington faces an obstacle far more formidable than a few power brokers in Tokyo’s government offices. It must buck centuries-old, deep-ingrained Japanese customs. To move the Japanese government, Washington must move an entire nation. So far the U.S. has had only limited success despite congressional threats to retaliate. In an April 9 nationwide broadcast, Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone urged the Japanese to buy more imported goods and unveiled a long-awaited three-year plan to ease import restrictions. But this program was far short of what Washington hoped to see. White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan said the Japanese offered “few new or immediate measures.” While the plan did promise fewer curbs on imports of telecommunications gear, medicine and medical equipment, it offered no relief for American forest products – which are among the most contentious trade issues.
Nakasone gives every sign of being secure in his desire to reduce a Japanese surplus in trade with the U.S. that hit 36.8 billion dollars in 1984 and could soon top 50 billion. Yet to rely on any one Japanese political leader, no matter how popular he is at home, to reverse trade policies is to underestimate the culture and traditions that weigh heavily against a breakthrough. Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan’s top elected leaders. “The whole concept that we can turn this around right now is obviously ridiculous,” says an American trader who has lived and worked here since 1952. “The vested interests are being shaken and slowly moved, but at a pace too slow for the eye to follow. That view is echoed by a U.S. diplomat closely involved in the efforts to open Japanese markets to American goods, Washington’s main solution to the ballooning trade imbalance. “Japan is a relationship society rather than a transactional society,” he says. “You cannot alter that kind of a system with a television speech or a number of general proposals, no matter how well intentioned they are.”
Beyond specific tariffs or other official barriers to imports, experts here say that the U.S. faces these obstacles:
Nearly total domination of the Japanese market by a few dozen giant conglomerates that strongly oppose even token competition – be it from abroad or emerging domestic firms.
An elite, thickly layered bureaucracy that historically has drafted laws and regulations as well as enforced them, and both of these powers would be threatened by trade reforms.
A longtime relationship between business and government that critics say fosters collusion and hinders foreign entry into domestic markets.
To conclude, it seems obvious that it is the determination to hang on to Japanese traditions that could delay indefinitely any meaningful removal of trade barriers. (472 words)
注: dismantle vt. 拆除。formidable 难对付的。broker 掮客。buck vt. 摔掉。retaliate v. 报复。gear n. 制品。weigh heavily against严重妨碍。 vested被赋予的，既得的。conglomerate n. 联合企业。foster 助长，培养。be it from …= whether it might be from …。 collusion n. 共谋，串通。hang on to坚持，死抱住。
1. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Trade War between Japan and U.S. B. It’s Time to Remove Japanese Trade Barriers
C. U.S. Desires to Reduce a Japanese Surplus in Trade D. Why Japan Won’t Submit to U.S. Trade Demands
2. The word “curbs” in line 8 paragraph 1 most probably means ____________.
A. restrictions B. emphases C. considerations D. weights
3. According to the text, the main factor working against any immediate entry into Japanese markets is __________.
A. the rapid development of the Japanese economy
B. tradition, culture, and a deeply-rooted bureaucracy
C. the Japanese determination to keep up its surplus in trade
D. the Japanese political intentions and their trade policies
4. It can be inferred from the text that the Japanese Prime Minister’s plan to relieve import curbs would ___________.
A. offer no relief for all of the American products in the near future
B. allow American goods to enter the Japanese markets more quickly
C. probably fall far short of the U.S. businessmen’s expectations
D. succeed considerably in breaking down the Japanese trade barriers
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the trade obstacles in the text?
A. Resistance from a large number of big enterprises against foreign competition.
B. Hindrance of business and government to imported goods which threaten domestic markets.
C. Firm support for import restrictions among Japanese workers, one of the powerful political forces.
D. Historically formed bureaucracy which makes laws and regulations and enforces them.
