🎧 Audio
📖 Script
On Monday, the leaders of Japan and South Korea received letters from the President of the United States, Donald Trump. These letters informed them about new tariff rates on goods coming into the United States from their countries. A tariff is a tax that the government places on goods that are imported from other countries. By increasing tariffs, President Trump aims to protect American businesses and encourage people to buy products made in the U.S.A.
The new tariffs are part of President Trump’s bold strategy to address trade imbalances. A trade imbalance occurs when a country buys more from another country than it sells to that country. President Trump believes that by making imported goods more expensive, American products will become more attractive to consumers. However, these changes have sparked discussions and concerns among international leaders and economists.
Japan and South Korea are key trading partners with the United States, and these new tariffs could affect their economies significantly. The leaders of Japan and South Korea are considering how to respond to these new measures. They must weigh the potential impacts on their industries and explore ways to negotiate with the U.S. government. The situation has created some tension, as countries try to protect their own economic interests while maintaining good relations.
Critics of the new tariff rates argue that they may lead to trade wars. A trade war happens when countries start imposing tariffs on each other’s goods in retaliation. This can lead to higher prices for consumers and strain international relations. Supporters, however, argue that the U.S. needs to take strong actions to protect its economic interests and ensure fair trade practices.
As the world watches these developments, people are waiting to see how these changes will affect the global economy. Countries are preparing for possible negotiations and are exploring new trade agreements to mitigate the effects of these tariffs. The outcome of this situation will influence global trade dynamics in the coming years.
📝 Vocabulary
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– Tariff: a tax on goods coming into a country.
▼ 日本語の意味を見る
（ここに日本語訳を追加できます）
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– Import: to bring goods or services into a country to sell.
▼ 日本語の意味を見る
（ここに日本語訳を追加できます）
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– Trade imbalance: a situation where a country imports more than it exports.
▼ 日本語の意味を見る
（ここに日本語訳を追加できます）
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– Retaliation: an action taken in response to another action, often as revenge.
▼ 日本語の意味を見る
（ここに日本語訳を追加できます）
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– Negotiate: to discuss something in order to reach an agreement.
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（ここに日本語訳を追加できます）
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Simple for Stating Facts – “A tariff is a tax that the government places on goods that are imported from other countries.”
▼🈁 文法の日本語補足を表示
（ここに「現在完了進行形は“ずっと〜してきた”を表す」などを補足）
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The new tariffs aim to encourage people to buy more imported products.
- MCQ: What is a possible consequence of the new tariffs?
a) Decreased prices for imported goods.
b) Trade wars between countries.
c) Increased exports from the U.S.
d) More imported goods from Japan. - MCQ: Why are Japan and South Korea important in this situation?
a) They are the only countries affected.
b) They are large importers of U.S. goods.
c) They are key trading partners with the U.S.
d) They have the highest tariffs on goods.
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True
False -
a)
b)
c)
d) -
a)
b)
c)
d)
📚 Reading Questions
- What did President Trump send to the leaders of Japan and South Korea?
- Why do critics worry about the new tariffs?
- What does “retaliation” mean in this context?
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🔑 解答を見る
4. Letters informing them about new tariff rates.
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🔑 解答を見る
5. They worry that it may lead to trade wars.
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🔑 解答を見る
6. An action taken in response to another action, often as revenge.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5407873/trump-tariff-rates-trade
