1．US apple exporters cracked the Chinese market, ending a 13-year ban, as shanghai retailers received a shipment of Red Delicious apples from Washington State.

随着上海零售商拿到了来自美国华盛顿州的“美味红”蛇果，美国苹果出口上终于敲开了中国市场的大门，自此结束了长达13年之久的禁止美国苹果进口的做法。

2．China hasn’t authorized any other US fruit imports.

中国没有准许美国其它水果进口。

3．It has claimed since 1981 that US fruit was infested with Mediterranean fruit flies and could devastate China’s own production, which is the world’s largest.

自1981年以来，中国一直声称美国的水果受到了地中海水果蝇的侵蚀，进口这种水果会摧毁中国这个世界上最大的水果产地。

4．China bans fruit from 73 other countries that it considers a fruit-fly risk.

中国禁止从其他73个被视作水果蝇危机的国家进口水果。

5．It dropped that objection under the pressure to liberalize trade with the U.S. and to meet the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization, a global body that China is eager to join.

迫于同美国进行自由贸易的压力，同时也是为了遵循中国很想参加的世界贸易组织作出的规定，中国放弃了原来的禁令。

6．Chinese officials lifted the curb on apples after prolonged negotiations with US officials, and particularly after Chinese inspectors visited Washington fruit farms and examined all 48 boxes of the first shipment.

中国官员在同美方进行了旷日持久的谈判之后，特别在中国检察人员参观了华盛顿州的果园并检查了作为第一批运货的所有48箱苹果之后，才解除了这项禁令。

7．The Washington Apple Commission said its sales in China could reach 500,000 boxes a year, compared with 11 million boxes in East and Southeast Asia.

华盛顿州苹果委员会表示，销往中国的苹果每年可达50万箱，而销往东亚以及东南亚的苹果每年以多达1,100万箱。

8． Still, US apples won’t become a Chinese staple soon; with a 40% tariff and a 17% value-added tax on US fruit, its price will be at least five times that of local varieties.

当然，美国苹果还不会很快成为中国人的主要水果。由于从美国进口的水果含40%的关税和17%的增值税，所以其价格至少是当地产的各类水果的五倍。