英語学習

英語ニュース教材：US sanctions five Europeans involved in regulating tech companies（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

The United States has recently imposed sanctions on five European officials involved in regulating technology companies. These officials are from Germany, France, Spain, and the European Union. The move has caused significant tension between the US and Europe, with leaders from these countries criticizing the US action as “intimidation and coercion.”

The sanctions include visa bans, which prevent these officials from entering the US. This decision has been met with strong opposition from European leaders, who view it as an attempt to influence their regulatory policies regarding major tech companies. The US government has justified the sanctions by stating that these officials have been unfairly targeting American tech giants through stringent regulations and fines.

European leaders argue that their regulations are necessary to ensure fair competition and protect consumer rights within the European market. They emphasize that the regulations are not aimed at any specific country but are part of broader efforts to create a balanced digital economy. The European Union has also stated that it will not be swayed by external pressure and will continue to enforce its rules on technology companies operating within its borders.

The dispute highlights the ongoing global battle over how to regulate powerful tech companies that operate across international borders. The US and Europe have different approaches to this issue, with the US often prioritizing innovation and corporate growth, while Europe focuses more on consumer protection and market fairness.

This conflict could have broader implications for international trade and diplomacy, as both sides are major players in the global economy. The situation is a reminder of the complex relationship between technology, regulation, and international politics.

📝 Vocabulary

  • sanction: a penalty imposed for breaking a law or rule（制裁）
    例文: “The government decided to impose sanctions on the country for its actions.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • impose sanctions
    • lift sanctions
    • economic sanctions
  • regulation: a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority（規制）
    例文: “The new regulations aim to improve safety standards.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • strict regulations
    • government regulations
    • comply with regulations
  • intimidation: the action of frightening or threatening someone, usually to persuade them to do something（脅迫）
    例文: “The workers reported intimidation from their supervisors.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • use intimidation
    • fear and intimidation
    • intimidation tactics
  • coercion: the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats（強制）
    例文: “The confession was obtained through coercion.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • under coercion
    • use coercion
    • coercion and threats
  • diplomacy: the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations（外交）
    例文: “Diplomacy is crucial for maintaining peace between nations.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • international diplomacy
    • skilled in diplomacy
    • diplomacy efforts

✏️ Grammar Point

Relative Clauses – “The sanctions include visa bans, which prevent these officials from entering the US.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
関係代名詞を使って、主語に関する追加情報を提供する構文

💡 使用場面

関係代名詞は、主語や目的語についてのさらなる情報を提供する際に、会話やビジネスシーンでよく使われます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The US sanctions were imposed on officials from the UK.
  2. MCQ: What is the main reason for the US imposing sanctions on European officials?
    a) To encourage technological innovation
    b) To penalize unfair targeting of US companies
    c) To support European tech companies
    d) To improve diplomatic relations
  3. MCQ: How have European leaders responded to the US sanctions?
    a) They have agreed to change their regulations
    b) They have imposed sanctions on the US
    c) They have criticized the move as intimidation
    d) They have remained silent on the issue
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) To penalize unfair targeting of US companies
  3. c) They have criticized the move as intimidation

📚 Reading Questions

  1. Who are the targets of the US sanctions mentioned in the article?
  2. Why do European leaders believe their regulations are necessary?
  3. What does the word “coercion” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る

    🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

    アメリカが技術企業の規制に関与するヨーロッパの5人の公務員に対して制裁を科しました。これにより、ドイツ、フランス、スペイン、EUの指導者たちはこの動きを「脅迫と強制」として非難しています。この制裁には、これらの公務員のアメリカ入国禁止が含まれ、アメリカの技術企業に対するヨーロッパの厳しい規制と罰金が不公平であるとする主張に基づいています。ヨーロッパの指導者たちは、彼らの規制は公正な競争と消費者の権利保護を確保するために必要であると主張し、外部からの圧力に屈しないことを表明しています。この対立は、技術企業の国際的な規制をめぐる問題の複雑さを浮き彫りにし、今後の国際貿易と外交に影響を与える可能性があります。

    Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-25/european-countries-slam-us-visa-bans/106178152

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