A：李教授，我们很多观众都是国际研究领域的大一新生，对英国脱欧了解得不多。您能否先给各位介绍一下英国脱欧的背景? B: Sure. I think I need to start with the EU, an economic and political

A: Professor Li, many of the audience are freshmen of international studies and don’t know much about Brexit. So could you first give us some background information?
B：好的。我得先介绍一下欧盟，它原本是由28个欧洲国家组成的经济政治联盟。欧盟允许成员国之间的人员自由流动，国民可以选择在任意成员国生活和工作。英国于1973年加入，当时的欧盟还被称为欧洲经济共同体。但是，英国在2016年6月举行了一次公投，当时有1 740万人支持脱欧，约占总人数的52％。
A: So, the UK had been a member of the EU for more than 40 years. We all know that Europe is Britain’s most important export market and its biggest source of foreign investment, and membership in the bloc1 has helped London enhance its position as a global financial center. But why the UK still wants to leave despite of all the benefits?
B：脱欧的原因其实很复杂，很难用一两句话来概括，但是我认为本质还是经济方面的原因。欧盟的反对者认为，欧盟作为一个经济实体其实已经功能失调。欧盟未能解决自2008年以来一直存在的经济问题，反而给英国带来了额外负担。
A: The UK formally left the EU on January 31, 2020, but there is still a lot to talk about and months of negotiation to come. Both sides still need to decide what their future relationship will look like. Professor Li, what do you think needs to be agreed?
B：双方将有一个为期11个月的过渡期，作为双方的喘息空间，在此期间需要对新的自由贸易协定进行谈判。英国将在过渡期结束时离开欧盟的单一市场和关税同盟，因此新的自贸协定就很有必要，它将允许货物在欧盟范围内运输且无需检查或收取额外费用。
A: I know that during the transition period the UK will remain part of the EU’s single market and the customs union. That means no tariffs, quotas or checks will be introduced. But what will happen if the UK fails to agree on a new free trade agreement with the EU?
B：如果不能及时达成新的自由贸易协定，那么英国将面临贸易壁垒，比如销往欧盟的产品会被征收关税，这将使英国商品更昂贵，更难在欧洲出售。英国的服务业将失去目前的欧盟市场准入资格。英国人前往欧盟其他国家工作将更加困难。不管是银行家、律师，还是音乐家、厨师，几乎所有人都将受到影响。