Negotiations to slash tariffs on a wide range of electronic goods stalled in Geneva after China presented a long list of products that it wanted to be exempted from the deal, jeopardizing talks that appeared to be headed for a successful conclusion.

　　旨在大范围降低电子产品关税的谈判在日内瓦搁浅，原因是中国拿出一份其想要排除在协议外的长长的产品清单，危及本来成功在望的谈判。

　　Twenty members of the World Trade Organization ? including the US and the EU as a bloc ? have been trying to craft a plurilateral deal that would expand the Information Technology Agreement, a pact dating back to 1996.

　　世界贸易组织(WTO)的20个成员(包括美国和欧盟作为一个集团)，一直在努力制定一项扩大1996年签订的《信息技术协议》(Information Technology Agreement)的诸边协议。

　　Such an agreement is a high priority for technology and electronics companies in the US, the EU and other countries participating in the talks who are hoping to see their products become more competitive. A deal seemed in reach as early as this week, but the talks were suspended after China came forth with a proposal that initially listed 103 products it wanted excluded.

　　对于美国、欧盟以及其他参与谈判的国家的技术和电子公司来说，这一协议是重中之重，因为他们希望自己的产品更有竞争力。本来这周就可能达成一项协议，但在中国拿出一份最初包含103种其希望排除在外的提案后，谈判暂停。

　　It narrowed this to 88, still above the level of exemptions sought by other countries. “The mood, once optimistic, has darkened considerably,” said one official familiar with the talks.

　　随后中国将清单上的产品减少到88种，但仍高于其他国家寻求的豁免水平。一位熟悉谈判的官员说：“曾经乐观的情绪已显著变得阴沉。”

　　Michael Froman, US trade representative, said the US was “extremely disappointed” . “Unfortunately, a diverse group of members participating in the negotiations determined that China’s position makes progress impossible at this stage,” Mr Froman said.

　　美国贸易代表迈克尔•弗罗曼(Michael Froman)表示，美国“极其失望”。弗罗曼说：“不幸的是，参与谈判的很多国家都认为，中国的立场使得现阶段无法取得进展。”

　　“We are hopeful that China will carefully consider the concerns it heard this week from many of its negotiating partners, and revise its position in a way that will allow the prompt resumption of the negotiations.”

　　“我们希望中国能够慎重考虑很多谈判伙伴本周表达的关切，调整立场，及早恢复谈判。”

　　If China presents a revised proposal that is more palatable, it could well lead to an agreement relatively soon. But for now, technology industry lobbyists could not hide their dismay.

　　如果中国能够拿出一个更能让人接受的修订提案，可能很快就会达成一项协议。但就目前而言，技术行业游说者无法掩盖他们的沮丧。

　　“No country at the negotiating table should be able to have its cake and eat it too,” said John Neuffer, senior vice-president of global policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, which represents tech groups ranging from HP and Microsoft to Sony and Samsung.

　　美国信息技术工业协会(Information Technology Industry Council)高级副总裁约翰•诺伊弗(John Neuffer)说：“谈判桌上的任何国家都不能鱼和熊掌兼得。”该协会代表技术公司的利益，包括惠普(HP)、微软(Microsoft)、索尼(Sony)和三星(Samsung)。

　　“China is the world’s largest exporter of IT products and will benefit enormously from this tariffelimination initiative. And it should not be allowed to continue to keep a wide swath of tariffs in place that make it difficult for innovative, affordable tech products from the United States and around the world to enter the Chinese market,” Mr Neuffer wrote in a blog post.

　　诺伊弗在一篇博文中写道：“中国是世界最大的IT产品出口国，将从这一免除关税的行动获得巨大利益。而中国不应该被允许保持广泛的关税，加大美国乃至世界各国创新、廉价的技术产品进入中国市场的难度。”

　　“Beijing got the message loud and clear from its trading partners that it should reflect on its approach to this negotiation and come back to the table promptly.”

　　“中国的贸易伙伴向北京发出了响亮而清晰的信号，中国应该反省在这次谈判中的立场，尽快回到谈判桌上。”

　　The stalled talks come as WTO members wrestle with plurilateral negotiations over an International Services Agreement as well as multilateral negotiations over ways to ease customs flows plucked from the ashes of the Doha round.

　　此项谈判陷入僵局之际，WTO成员国也在努力通过诸边谈判达成一项“国际服务协定”(International Services Agreement)，并通过多边谈判推进多哈回合的贸易自由化努力。(FT)