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"Winter is coming," warned a Norwegian representative on November 22nd, at a meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
“寒冬要來了，”11月22日一名挪威代表在世界貿易組織（WTO）的一次會上表示。
The multilateral trading system that the WTO has overseen since 1995 is about to freeze up.
自1995年起受WTO監督的多邊貿易體系即將凍結。
On December 10th two of the judges on its appellate body,
12月10日，其上訴機構的兩名法官將退休，
which hears appeals in trade disputes and authorises sanctions against rule-breakers, will retire
該機構負責審理貿易爭端中的上訴，并授權對違反規則者進行制裁，
—and an American block on new appointments means they will not be replaced.
—美國對新任命的阻撓意味著他們不會被取代。
With just one judge remaining, it will no longer be able to hear new cases.
由于只剩下一名法官，該機構將無法再審理新案件。
The WTO underpins 96% of global trade. By one recent estimate, membership of the WTO or General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT),
WTO支撐著96%的全球貿易。根據最近的一項估計，WTO或其前身關稅及貿易總協定（GATT）的成員國身份
its predecessor, has boosted trade among members by 171%.
促使成員國之間的貿易增長171%。
When iPhones move from China to America, or bottles of Scotch whisky from the European Union to India,
當iPhone手機從中國轉移到美國，或者是蘇格蘭威士忌從歐盟轉移到印度時，
it is the WTO's rules that keep tariff and non-tariff barriers low and give companies the certainty they need to plan and invest.
是WTO的規則使關稅和非關稅壁壘保持在較低水平，并使企業在規劃和投資方面有了確定性。
The system is supposed to be self-reinforcing. Mostly, countries follow the WTO's rules.
這個體系本應自我強化。多數情況下，成員國也遵守著WTO的規則。
But if one feels another has transgressed, then instead of starting a one-on-one trade spat it can file a formal dispute.
但如果一方覺得另一方違反了協議，那么它可以提起正式紛爭，而不是挑起一對一的貿易爭端。
If the WTO's ruling displeases either party, it can appeal. The appellate body's judgments pack a punch.
如果WTO的裁決讓任一方感到不滿，那么該方可以上訴。上訴機構的判決非常有效力。
If the loser fails to bring its trade rules into compliance, the winner can impose tariffs up to the amount the judges think the rule-breaking cost it.
如果敗訴的一方未能遵守其貿易規則， 那么勝訴的一方可以征收關稅，最高可以達到法官認為違規造成的損失。
It is that punishment that deters rule breaking in the first place.
正是這種懲罰在一開始就阻止了違規行為。
It is no surprise that President Donald Trump has axed these foreign arbiters, given his general distaste for internationally agreed rules.
考慮到唐納德·特朗普總統對國際協議規則的反感，他砍掉這些外國法官也就不意外了。
On November 12th he declared himself "very tentative" on the WTO. But the problems run far deeper than dislike of multilateral institutions.
11月12日，他宣稱自己對WTO“非常猶豫”。但問題遠不止是對多邊機構厭惡。
They stem from a breakdown in trust over the way international law should work, and the more general failure of the WTO's negotiating arm.
它們源于對國際法運作方式信任的破裂，以及WTO談判機構更普遍的失敗。
Had the Americans felt that they could negotiate away their grievances, resentment towards the appellate body might not have built up.
如果美國人覺得他們可以通過談判來解決他們的不滿，那么他們對上訴機構的怨恨可能就不會形成。
But with so many members reluctant to liberalise, including smaller countries fearful of opening up to China, that has been impossible.
但由于許多成員國不愿自由化，包括害怕向中國開放的小國，所以這是不可能的。
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