VOA常速英语:Clinton Talks Trade, Investment, Not Burma at the ASEAN Summit

短语讲解：

1. The secretary focused her public remarks on increasing economic ties to the region.

focus on集中于，对(某事或做某事)予以注意
例句：Today we're going to focus on the question of homeless people.
今天, 我们主要讨论无家可归者的问题。

2. The Secretary of State said while trade between the U.S. and Southeast Asia has tripled over the last 20 years, it still accounts for only 6 percent of U.S. global trade.

account for占有，占...百分比
例句：APEC members account for more than half of the world's economic output.
亚太经合组织成员的经济总量在世界占一半以上。

3. Secretary Clinton wants more opportunities for American firms to compete in this economic arena and wants ASEAN to reduce trade barriers and apply the same rules to all investors.

apply to运用; 适用于
例句：In this way they can better apply theory to practice.
这样他们就能更好地把理论运用到实践中去。

4. “We have to start by insisting on economic competition that is open, free, transparent and fair. That means taking on rules that prevent foreign investors from competing with local businesses to produce better goods and services,” she said.

insist on坚持; 强调
例句：He insists on discipline in the classroom.
他一贯强调课堂纪律。
take on采用，采纳，采取
例句：He took on new ways of life after he got married.
他婚后开始了新的生活方式。
prevent from阻止, 防止
例句：His prompt action prevented the fire from spreading.
他的果断行动制止了火势的蔓延。

5. She says the United States is now pushing back on unfair trade practices.

push back使撤退, 使回到原处; 推迟
例句：The firm wanted to push back the deadline but was refused.
公司想推迟截止日期，但遭到了拒绝。

6. he says these efforts have helped increase efforts by the Obama administration to help U.S. companies like construction equipment maker Caterpillar build a new plant in Indonesia, and aircraft manufacturer Boeing secure multi billion dollar deals with Thai Airways and Indonesia's Lion Air.

deal with惠顾; 与…交易, 和…做买卖,关于; 应付, 处理; 对待
例句：We have dealt with that firm for many years.
我们与那家公司有多年的生意往来。