由于歷史、文化等多層面的聯(lián)系，英美關(guān)系向來微妙，英國前首相丘吉爾所說的“英美特殊關(guān)系”一直在延續(xù)。
如今，隨著特朗普政府對中國、歐盟和英國在內(nèi)的貿(mào)易伙伴發(fā)起關(guān)稅戰(zhàn)，英美的“特殊關(guān)系”似乎產(chǎn)生了一些裂隙。
據(jù)《衛(wèi)報》獨家披露，為應對特朗普政府發(fā)起的關(guān)稅戰(zhàn)，英國政府正大幅提升敏感貿(mào)易文件的安全等級，以防止機密信息落入美國之手。據(jù)知情人士透露，英國公務員系統(tǒng)修改了文件處理指南，將部分貿(mào)易談判文件保密等級提高，并嚴格限制其數(shù)字傳輸方式。
UK officials are tightening security when handling sensitive trade documents to prevent them from falling into US hands amid Donald Trump's tariff war, the Guardian reveals. In an indication of the strains on the "special relationship", British civil servants have changed document-handling guidance, adding higher classifications to some trade negotiation documents in order to better shield them from American eyes, sources told the Guardian.
從“共享密件”到“嚴防死守”
據(jù)《衛(wèi)報》報道，此前，英美貿(mào)易談判文件通常標注為“官方-敏感（僅限英國閱）”，允許官員們通過內(nèi)部郵件鏈分享。即使在白宮排除了全面貿(mào)易協(xié)議的可能性后，英國官員仍試圖與拜登政府進行談判，使這類談判文件的標注依然有效。
Before Trump's inauguration, UK trade documents related to US talks were generally marked "Official – sensitive (UK eyes only)", according to examples seen by the Guardian, and officials were allowed to share these on internal email chains. This classification stood while British officials attempted to negotiate with Joe Biden's administration, even after a full-blown trade deal was ruled out by the White House.
當特朗普政府剛開始對歐盟、中國及英國加征10%-25%的汽車、鋼鐵關(guān)稅時，英國工黨領(lǐng)袖斯塔默仍致力于推動英美貿(mào)易協(xié)定，甚至愿意在數(shù)字稅、農(nóng)業(yè)等領(lǐng)域讓步以換取關(guān)稅豁免。
Keir Starmer has prioritised striking a trade deal with Washington, opting not to retaliate over Trump's decision to impose 10 percent tariffs on goods exported to the US, and 25 percent tariffs on UK car and steel exports, instead offering concessions on areas including digital taxes and agriculture.
美國副總統(tǒng)萬斯雖宣稱兩國“有真正的文化親和力”且“有可能達成一項符合兩國最佳利益的協(xié)議”，但英國幕后對本國產(chǎn)業(yè)和公司容易受到特朗普“美國優(yōu)先”議程影響的擔憂正在增加。
JD Vance said on Tuesday he believed a mutually beneficial US-UK trade deal was within reach. The US vice-president said officials were "certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer's government" on a trade deal, adding that it was an "important relationship". "There's a real cultural affinity," Vance said. "And, of course, fundamentally, America is an anglo country. I think there's a good chance that, yes, we'll come to a great agreement that's in the best interest of both countries." However, behind the scenes concern is growing over the vulnerability of UK industries and companies to Trump's "America first" agenda.
據(jù)報道，有消息人士稱，目前，來自唐寧街10號、英國外交部和商務貿(mào)易部的談判立場文件均被附加嚴格處理指令，以避免美國攔截，其中一些甚至被歸類為“機密”和“絕密”。
Now, a far greater proportion of documents and correspondence detailing the negotiating positions being discussed by officials from No 10, the Foreign Office and the Department for Business and Trade come with additional handling instructions to avoid US interception, with some classified as "secret" and "top secret", sources said. These classifications also carry different guidance on how documents may be shared digitally, in order to avoid interception.
英國首相斯塔默和美國總統(tǒng)特朗普 資料圖
英國商業(yè)利益相關(guān)公司也被告知在與貿(mào)易部門和唐寧街10號共享信息時采取額外的預防措施，其中包括在英國和歐盟開展業(yè)務的大型制藥公司。
Companies with commercial interests in the UK have also been told to take additional precautions in how they share information with the trade department and No 10, senior business sources said. These include large pharmaceutical companies with operations in the UK and EU.
歐盟對美防范同步升級
大西洋彼岸的歐盟同樣加強了對美信息戒備。《金融時報》報道稱，歐盟委員會官員訪美時需會發(fā)放“臨時手機”，以防敏感信息遭截獲。這種同步升級的安全措施，也反映出西方盟友對特朗普貿(mào)易政策的普遍不信任。
Other reports suggest the European Commission has also changed its perspective on the risks of sensitive or secret information being intercepted by the US. Commission employees have been issued with burner phones if they are visiting the US, the Financial Times has reported.
昔日“特殊關(guān)系”或?qū)⒚媾R更多考驗
《衛(wèi)報》指出，英美之間的特殊關(guān)系能否經(jīng)受住雙方在應對俄烏問題上日益分歧的政策、以及對北約和防務合作的尖銳批評，正引發(fā)外界更廣泛的質(zhì)疑。在貿(mào)易領(lǐng)域，汽車制造和制藥等敏感行業(yè)的壓力也與日俱增。
Wider questions have been asked about whether the special relationship between the UK and US can withstand increasingly divergent policies on Russian hostility, as well as deep criticisms of Nato and defence collaboration. On trade, pressures are mounting in sensitive areas such as car manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
報道稱，一些觀察人士認為，特朗普上周表示將暫緩新關(guān)稅政策90天，就是為了緩解關(guān)稅政策帶來的震蕩。與此情況下，歐盟委員會主席烏爾蘇拉·馮德萊恩表示，歐盟也將推遲對美國關(guān)稅的回應。
In a move regarded by some observers as an attempt to soothe market reactions, including a rise in US government borrowing costs, Trump said last week that he would delay further tariffs for 90 days. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would also delay its response to US tariffs.
雖然有跡象表明特朗普可能會因市場對其貿(mào)易政策的反對而有所收斂，但特朗普仍在不斷提高對中國的關(guān)稅。中國商務部在聲明中表示，“鑒于在目前關(guān)稅水平下，美國輸華商品已無市場接受可能性”，并呼吁歐盟共同抵制“美式霸凌”。
Despite suggestions that Trump may be chastened by the markets' volatile response to his trade policies, the president's incremental steps have increased duties on Chinese imports to 145%. China responded on Friday by announcing it would increase tariffs on US goods to 125%. The announcement from the Chinese commerce ministry also suggested that it would not pursue higher tariffs in any further retaliatory steps against the US, adding that "at the current tariff level, there is no market acceptance for US goods exported to China". China, meanwhile, urged the EU to resist Trump's "bullying".
對于歐盟而言，盡管特朗普逆轉(zhuǎn)了之前對歐盟各國僅維持了幾個小時的20%“對等關(guān)稅”，但是對鋼鐵、鋁和汽車征收25%關(guān)稅的政策仍然有效。隨著特朗普政策不斷沖擊全球貿(mào)易秩序，昔日的“特殊關(guān)系”或?qū)⒚媾R更多現(xiàn)實利益的嚴峻考驗。
Until July, the EU will face a 10 percent duty on exports to the US, rather than the 20 percent "reciprocal tariff" rate that was in force for a matter of hours, until Trump's reversal last Wednesday. US duties of 25 percent tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars are still in place, however.
編輯：黎霈融
來源：衛(wèi)報 環(huán)球雜志
China Daily精讀計劃
每天20分鐘，英語全面提升！
熱門跟貼