美国的债务上限问题仍存争议

This isn't the first time the Democrats and Republicans have gathered to negotiate on the debt ceiling, but previous talks have failed to reach an agreement.
美国民主党人和共和党人已不是第一次齐聚一堂商讨债务限额问题，但是先前的谈判未能达成一致。

The difference of opinion doesn't lie in whether or not the limit should be raised, but how it should be raised.
意见的分歧不在于是否提高限额，而在于应该如何提高。

The Republicans want to protect the benefits of the country's wealthy, so they're opposed to the Democrats' proposal of ending some tax loopholes for high-income earners.
共和党人想维护国家富人的利益，所以他们反对民主党人提出的终止高收入者的税收漏洞的提议。

On the other hand, the Democrats are opposed to cuts in social security or medicare benefits, as suggested by the Republicans. The two parties also disagree on the time and quantum of raising the debt ceiling.
另一方面，民主党人反对共和党人提出的削减社会保障支出或医保津贴的建议。两党还在提高债务最高限额的时间和额度上意见相左。

The United States has raised the debt limit 78 times since 1960. If Congress fails to raise the ceiling by August 2nd, U.S. sovereign debt could be cut to the lowest level ever.
从1960年开始，美国已经78次提高债务限额。如果美国国会不能在8月2日之前提高额度，主权债务将被削减至历史最低水平。

But as the U.S. has never fallen into debt default in its history, analysts believe the White House and Congress will reach consensus before the deadline.
但是，由于美国历史上从未陷入债务违约的泥潭，分析学家认为，白宫和国会会在截止日期之前达成共识。