slap tariffs/meritocracy/patronage | 热词手帐

FT每日英语热词手帐（No. 031）

Mr Trump’s campaign threats last year to slap tariffs on Chinese goods and declare Beijing a currency manipulator have raised fears of a destructive trade war. But since taking office Mr Trump has moderated his rhetoric.
去年竞选时威胁要对中国商品征收，并宣布北京为汇率操纵者，引发各方担忧一场毁灭性的争。但在上任后，的言论已有所缓和。

来源：《China concedes on access for finance and beef exports to avert US trade war/中国对美国提出贸易让步以避免》

The hit to the western democratic brand is hard to overstate. I have lost count of the number of diplomats from what used to be called the Third World telling me how familiar they find Mr Trump’s Washington. Access to the president’s bloodline is the priority. There is no pretence of meritocracy. Patronage and clientelism are in the air. Does anyone think the Clintons could help cure this ill?
这对该西方民主“品牌”的打击怎么强调都不算夸大。我已经数不清有多少来自以前被称为“第三世界”的外交官告诉我，他们对主政的华盛顿有多么熟悉。与的亲属拉关系成了优先事项。不再有的幌子。恩惠和的风气抬头。有谁认为克林顿家族能帮助治愈这一弊病吗？