媒體英語會帶大家一起學習 BBC 撰稿人在報道世界大事時常用到的單詞和短語。

美國最新的“財政懸崖”協議現已被簽署。不過人們對該協議中涉及的大幅度增稅和削減政府開支問題表示關注。以下是BBC財經記者 Andrew Walker 于12月31日發回的報道：

The big concern about the standoff in Washington is that the economy could go back into recession if the tax increases and spending cuts go through.

Any damage could be moderated if the measures are partly reversed in the next few months, but there are reports suggesting that there has already been some impact on business investment and jobs.

Some differences between President Obama and the Republicans in Congress have narrowed, on income taxes, for example.

But they are not resolved and there remain major divergences over how to stabilise the US government finances.