媒体英语会带大家一起学习 BBC 撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

美国最新的“财政悬崖”协议现已被签署。不过人们对该协议中涉及的大幅度增税和削减政府开支问题表示关注。以下是BBC财经记者 Andrew Walker 于12月31日发回的报道：

The big concern about the standoff in Washington is that the economy could go back into recession if the tax increases and spending cuts go through.

Any damage could be moderated if the measures are partly reversed in the next few months, but there are reports suggesting that there has already been some impact on business investment and jobs.

Some differences between President Obama and the Republicans in Congress have narrowed, on income taxes, for example.

But they are not resolved and there remain major divergences over how to stabilise the US government finances.