Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. delegation (n.) – a group of people that represents a larger group (like an organization or a country)
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. delegation (n.) – a group of people that represents a larger group (like an organization or a country)
Example:
The company’s main office sent a delegation
to visit an overseas branch.
2. waiver (n.) – the act of releasing the
duty or obligation from a certain rule
or law
Example:
In order to boost tourism, the government issued a waiver on the
limit of the number of tourists that can come to the country.
3. sanction (n.) – a set of penalties
for breaking a law or rule
Example:
Students who cheat on their exams are suspended from classes as a sanction for their offense.
4. curb (v.) – to limit or to keep
something under control
Example: The
road widening project curbed the traffic problem.
5. common ground (n.) – something that
people agree about even if they disagree about other things
Example: Seeking
for a common ground is important to build healthy relationships.
Article
Read the text below.
At a recent
meeting with a US delegation, Japan officials requested a waiver from a new US law giving sanctions
to countries that participate in the oil trade with Iran. Japan cited economic
concerns and significant reduced oil imports from Iran as reasons for the
law to be applied less strictly.
According to
the new law, financial institutions that are discovered to have done business
with Iran's central bank—especially those that have made payments for
oil--can no longer operate in the US. The law aims to curb Iran’s crude oil exports and to stop the possible funding of
Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Although
Japan--which imports 10% of its oil from Iran--understands the significance
of the law, officials said that the US should consider Japan's economy, which
has been fragile since the March 11 disaster. With less available oil, prices
may soar, affecting not only Japan’s but also the global economy. Japan also
needs more energy supplies from abroad because many of its nuclear reactors
suspended operations after the meltdown in the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
Japan also
pointed out the 40% decrease in its Iran oil imports for the last five years,
a trend that will likely continue, an official said. Although the new U.S.
law states how a waiver could be granted to countries that have significantly
reduced oil purchases from Iran, it fails to define what a "significant
reduction" specifically means.
According to
chairman Akihiko Tembo of the Petroleum Association of Japan, while US and
Japan delegations continue to seek common ground, oil distributors are
already looking for alternative suppliers. But getting a waiver from the new
law will be difficult, he says, and decreasing Iran oil imports may still be
unavoidable.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
● Should Japan continue buying oil from Iran despite Iran’s
possible nuclear ambitions? Why or why not?
● Do you think that what US did is an effective action to stop or
prevent Iran from such ambitions? Please explain further.
Discussion B
●
Do you think Japan can survive
without importing oil abroad? Please explain your answer.
● Would Japan benefit from importing less oil? Why or why not?