Britain Carries Out Test to Predict Effects of EU Withdrawal

英国进行测试预测脱欧影响

Britain is studying how its roads and shipping could be affected if the country leaves the European Union (EU) without an agreement between the two sides.

英国正在研究如果该国在双方未达成协议的情况下脱离欧盟，其道路和航运将会如何受到影响。

The study, which began Monday, is meant to show possible traffic problems if the country leaves the EU on March 29. That is when a new British law is set to go into effect. It would require Britain to cancel its EU membership, even if the government is not finished negotiating an exit agreement.

这项始于周一的研究旨在揭露如果该国于3月29日脱离欧盟可能会出现的交通问题，届时一项新的英国法律将会生效，它会要求英国注销其欧盟成员国身份，即使政府尚未完成脱欧协议的谈判。

Prime Minister Theresa May is attempting to win parliamentary approval of an EU exit agreement to avoid the automatic exit. But British lawmakers are expected to reject the deal. A vote on the measure is set for next week.

英国首相特蕾莎·梅(Theresa May)正在试图获得议会批准一项脱欧协议，以避免自动脱欧。但是预计英国议员将会否决这项协议。针对这项措施的投票定于下周举行。

Almost 100 trucks took part in the first day of testing. The trucks traveled about 30 kilometers from a closed airport to the port of Dover, in southeastern England.

近100辆卡车参与了首日的测试。这些卡车从一家未开放机场行驶了大约30公里，到达英格兰东南部的多佛港。

May's government has repeatedly warned that an automatic exit from the EU, without an agreement, would cause severe economic problems. It is widely believed that a "no-deal" exit would lead to new taxes and customs barriers in Britain. This would likely slow Britain's transportation links to the rest of Europe.

梅政府一再警告说，无协议自动脱欧将会导致严重的经济问题。人们普遍认为，无协议硬脱欧将会导致英国出现新的税收和关税壁垒，这可能会减缓英国与欧洲其它地区的交通联系。

Transportation experts have predicted major traffic problems leading into and out of ports like Dover. Such problems could also lead to shortages of food and medicine.

交通运输专家预测，像进出多佛港这样的港口将会出现严重的交通问题。这类问题也可能会导致食品和药品短缺。

Some British lawmakers have criticized the tests as a waste of time and money. Britain's Road Haulage Association has described the tests as "too little, too late". The group suggested holding additional transport exercises that are much bigger.

一些英国议员批评测试是浪费时间和金钱。英国道路运输协会称测试“规模太小，时机太晚。”该组织建议额外举行更大规模的运输演习。

Charlie Elphicke is a Conservative Party lawmaker from Dover. He told the Reuters news agency that he believes any tests need to be much larger to effectively measure possible effects on transportation.

查理·埃尔菲克(Charlie Elphicke)是来自多佛的一位保守党议员。他对路透社表示，他认为需要加大测试才能有效衡量对交通的影响。

"Less than a hundred lorries is a drop in the ocean compared to the more than 10,000 that go to the channel ports every day," he said.

他说：“不到一百辆货车与每天开往海峡港口的一万多辆货车相比就是九牛一毛。”

Supporters of Britain's exit from the EU have admitted the split would lead to some economic disruption in the beginning. But they believe that such effects would only be short term. In the long run, they expect Britain to gain new economic and political strength outside of the EU.

英国脱欧支持者承认，这种分裂最初将会导致一些经济动荡，但他们认为这种影响只是暂时性的。他们预计从长远来看，英国会在欧盟以外获得新的经济和政治实力。

Groups opposed to Britain's withdrawal say it will isolate the country too much from Europe and will hurt the economy.

反对英国脱欧的组织表示，他们认为这会让英国从欧洲过于孤立，并会伤害到经济。

I'm Caty Weaver.

凯蒂·韦弗报道。

Britain is studying how its roads and shipping could be affected if the country leaves the European Union (EU) without an agreement between the two sides.

The study, which began Monday, is meant to show possible traffic problems if the country leaves the EU on March 29. That is when a new British law is set to go into effect. It would require Britain to cancel its EU membership, even if the government is not finished negotiating an exit agreement.

Prime Minister Theresa May is attempting to win parliamentary approval of an EU exit agreement to avoid the automatic exit. But British lawmakers are expected to reject the deal. A vote on the measure is set for next week.

Almost 100 trucks took part in the first day of testing. The trucks traveled about 30 kilometers from a closed airport to the port of Dover, in southeastern England.

May’s government has repeatedly warned that an automatic exit from the EU, without an agreement, would cause severe economic problems. It is widely believed that a “no-deal” exit would lead to new taxes and customs barriers in Britain. This would likely slow Britain’s transportation links to the rest of Europe.

Transportation experts have predicted major traffic problems leading into and out of ports like Dover. Such problems could also lead to shortages of food and medicine.

Some British lawmakers have criticized the tests as a waste of time and money. Britain’s Road Haulage Association has described the tests as “too little, too late”. The group suggested holding additional transport exercises that are much bigger.

Charlie Elphicke is a Conservative Party lawmaker from Dover. He told the Reuters news agency that he believes any tests need to be much larger to effectively measure possible effects on transportation.

“Less than a hundred lorries is a drop in the ocean compared to the more than 10,000 that go to the channel ports every day,” he said.

Supporters of Britain’s exit from the EU have admitted the split would lead to some economic disruption in the beginning. But they believe that such effects would only be short term. In the long run, they expect Britain to gain new economic and political strength outside of the EU.

Groups opposed to Britain’s withdrawal say it will isolate the country too much from Europe and will hurt the economy.

I’m Caty Weaver.

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Words in This Story

automatic – adj. working by itself or with little human control

lorry – n. large road vehicle for transporting goods

disruption – n. interference into or stopping something

isolate – v. separate someone or something from other people or things