A surge in imports from China pushed the US trade gap sharply higher in May, adding to a stream of weak data for the Obama administration already under pressure over the economy and stagnant jobs market.

　　在來自中國進口激增的推動下，美國5月份的貿易逆差大幅擴大。已因經濟和就業市場低迷而承壓的奧巴馬(Obama)政府，又迎來了一連串疲弱數據中的最新一個。

　　The trade deficit grew by 4.8 per cent to $42.3bn, according to commerce department figures, the highest since November 2008 and at odds with the consensus of economists, who forecast the gap would shrink in May.

　　美國商務部的數據顯示，美國5月份的貿易逆差擴大4.8%，至423億美元。這是2008年11月以來最大規模的月度貿易逆差。該結果與經濟學家們的共識相左——經濟學家們曾預測，5月份的貿易逆差將收窄。

　　Imports from China, which is the country's most politically sensitive trading partner, rose by nearly 12 per cent. That inflated the US trade gap with China by more than 15 per cent to $22.3bn, the biggest since last October.

　　美國從中國進口增加近12%，對華貿易逆差由此擴大逾15%，至223億美元——這一規模是去年10月以來最大的。中國是美國最具政治敏感性的貿易伙伴。

　　Last week, official Chinese figures showed exports from China had surged 44 per cent year-on-year in June, lifting its monthly trade surplus to $20bn. Such imbalances infuriate US political leaders, despite China's decision last month to end its near-two-year peg to the dollar.

　　上周，中國官方數字顯示，中國6月份的出口額同比飆升44%，月度貿易順差由此擴大至200億美元。盡管中國上月決定終止實施近兩年之久的人民幣盯住美元政策，但中美間的這種不平衡仍令美國政界領袖們感到憤怒。

　　Michael Feroli, an economist at JPMorgan Chase, said the surge in imports of Chinese goods in May could be temporary, as Chinese exporters rushed shipments ahead of a reduction in export tax rebates that takes effect on July 15.

　　摩根大通(JPMorgan Chase)經濟學家邁克爾•費羅利(Michael Feroli)表示，5月份美國從中國進口的激增可能是暫時現象，它是由中國出口商紛紛趕在出口退稅下調于7月15日生效前發貨導致的。

　　But the overall trend of a resurgent trade deficit will concern the administration, which has focused on lifting exports to create jobs at home.

　　不過，美國貿易逆差再度擴大的總體趨勢仍會讓奧巴馬政府感到不安。奧巴馬政府已集中精力擴大出口，力圖在國內創造就業機會。

　　Mr Obama, after largely letting trade policy languish during the first 18 months of his administration, recently announced a drive to double exports within five years and promised progress on three long-stalled bilateral trade deals.

　　在上任后的頭18個月里，奧巴馬對美國貿易政策基本上采取聽任態度。但他近期宣布了一項在五年內推動美國出口翻番的計劃，還承諾要在三項長期陷于停頓的雙邊貿易協議上取得進展。

　　But few economists think the plan will have much impact. The proposal involves limited concrete actions beyond some bureaucratic reshuffling, a commitment to redouble efforts on marketing and a proposal to increase the activity of the Ex-Im Bank, the US official export credit agency.

　　然而，幾乎沒有經濟學家認為上述計劃會產生很大影響。該計劃包括一些官僚重組、一項加大營銷努力的承諾以及一項加大美國進出口銀行(Ex-Im Bank)活躍度的方案，除此之外僅涉及有限的具體行動。美國進出口銀行是美國官方出口信貸機構。

　　The persistent US trade gap had narrowed in the initial months of the recession from late 2008, but analysts said yesterday the swelling shortfall could knock a percentage point from gross domestic product in the second quarter. Although exports have been growing in recent months as world trade continues to recover from a plunge last year, the strong dollar and the lack of domestic demand in the rest of the world mean the contribution of net trade to economic growth is likely to be negative over the next two years.

　　美國持續多年的貿易逆差曾在始于2008年底的本次衰退的頭幾個月里收窄，而分析師們昨日表示，不斷膨脹的貿易逆差可能會使美國二季度國內生產總值(GDP)減少一個百分點。盡管近幾個月來，隨著全球貿易從去年的驟降中持續復蘇，美國的出口一直在增長，但強勢美元和世界其它地區國內需求的不足意味著，未來兩年里，美國凈貿易額對經濟增長的貢獻很可能為負值。

　　“Less domestic production, because of increased imports and less demand for higher-priced US exports, means less job creation in the manufacturing sector, a higher unemployment rate, and less income growth domestically,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC.

　　PNC首席經濟學家斯圖爾特•霍夫曼(Stuart Hoffman)表示：“由于美國進口增加以及外國對價格較高的美國出口商品的需求減少，美國的國內生產在萎縮，這將導致美國制造業創造的就業機會減少、失業率升高和國內收入增長下降。”