VOA即美國之音（The Voice of America，簡稱VOA）。美國之音是一家提供45種語言服務的動態的國際多媒體廣播電臺。
美國和英國打擊企業國外行賄力度最大
By Susan Shand
14 October 2020
A new report rates the United States and Britain as the largest exporters most active at enforcing rules meant to stop companies from paying bribes in foreign markets. The report found that many other nations are doing almost nothing to stop bribery.
一份新報告將美國和英國列為最積極執行旨在阻止企業在國外市場行賄的規定的最大出口國。該報告發現，其它許多國家都幾乎未採取任何行動制止行賄。
The study comes from Transparency International, the Berlin-based anti-corruption group. It found that only four of 47 countries were actively enforcing laws against foreign bribery in 2019. The four countries -- the U.S., Britain, Switzerland and Israel -- are responsible for 16.5 percent of exports worldwide.
該研究來自於總部位於柏林的反腐敗組織透明國際。該調查發現，在47個國家中，只有4個國家在2019年積極執行打擊國外行賄的法律。這四個國家是美國、英國、瑞士和以色列，它們佔全球出口的16.5%。
That compares with the seven countries identified as actively enforcing legislation against foreign bribery in 2018.
這與2018年有7個國家積極執行打擊國外行賄的法律形成了鮮明對比。
"Our research shows that many countries are barely investigating foreign bribery," said Gillian Dell, the lead writer of the report.
該報告的主要作者吉莉安·戴爾表示：「我們的研究表明，許多國家幾乎不調查國外行賄。」
"Unfortunately, it's all too common for businesses in wealthy countries to export corruption to poorer countries, undermining institutions and development," she added.
她還表示：「不幸的是，發達國家企業向貧窮國家出口腐敗、破壞制度和發展，這些都太普遍了。」
The 1997 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development agreement bans bribes to win business deals, or to avoid paying taxes.
經合組織1997年通過的協議禁止通過行賄贏得商業合同或是避稅。
China is the world's largest exporter and did not sign the agreement. The new report found that China had "little or no enforcement," as did India, and agreement signers Japan and South Korea.
中國是全球最大的出口國，該國沒有籤署該協議。這份新報告發現，中國和印度都很少或根本不執法，而籤署了協議的日本和韓國也是如此。
Germany, the world's third-largest exporter, also signed the agreement. The report found Germany had "moderate enforcement," as do other major exporters like France, Italy and Spain.
全球第三大出口國德國也籤署了該協議。報告發現，德國、法國、義大利和西班牙等其它主要出口國的執法力度均為中等。
Germany and Italy both fought fewer bribery cases in 2019 than during 2018, while France and Spain improved their performance.
德國和義大利2019年打擊行賄的案件比2018年要少，而法國和西班牙的表現有所改善。
Agreement signers Netherlands, Canada and Austria are the biggest exporters that showed only "limited enforcement," the report said.
報告稱，籤署了協議的荷蘭、加拿大和澳大利亞是僅展現出「有限執法力度」的最大出口國。
"Too many governments choose to turn a blind eye when their companies use bribery to win business in foreign markets," noted Transparency International's head, Delia Ferreira Rubio.
透明國際的負責人迪莉亞·費雷拉·魯比奧表示：「當企業利用賄賂在國外市場贏得業務的時候，大多數政府都選擇視而不見。」
"G20 countries and other major economies have a responsibility to enforce the rules," she added.
她還說：「二十國集團國家和其它主要經濟體有責任執行這些規定。」
Transparency's suggestions include ending secrecy in ownership of companies. The group says secrecy makes investigating foreign bribery difficult. It also is used to protect parent companies from being responsible for the actions of their foreign subsidiaries.
透明度國際提出的建議包括終止公司所有權的保密性。該組織表示，保密使得調查國外行賄變得困難。它還被用於保護母公司免於對其國外子公司的行為負責。
I'm Susan Shand.
我是蘇珊·尚德。
transparency – adj. easy to understand, or not hiding information
barely – adj. the absolute minimum effort
undermine – v. to attempt to destroy the credibility of a leader or company
G20 – n. a group of 19 countries and the EU whose central bankers meet to discuss economic cooperation
subsidiary – n. a smaller company that is owned by a larger company
*內容來源51VOA.COM原創翻譯，侵刪~