Across the Channel, French Port City Watches, Speculates About Brexit
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September 12, 2019 09:51 AM Lisa Bryant (source)
Across the Channel, French Port City Watches, Speculates About Brexit
自海峽彼岸一窺英國脫歐：法國港市對脫歐的關注與臆測(speculate)
September 12, 2019 09:51 AM
Lisa Bryant
PARIS —
From the ferries crisscrossing the slender spit of Channel, to the British flags and pubs dotting the scruffy town center, it's easy to see where Calais' priorities lie.
"Calais is the last English city of France," jokes Francois Lavallee, Chamber of Commerce president for France's northern coastal region. "We have a lot of human and business exchange. It's in our blood."
But today, Calais is preparing for a Brexit-wrought rupture to longstanding economic and historic ties — even as chaotic London politics make Britain's planned Oct. 31 exit from the European Union increasingly uncertain.
Here and in other northern industrial ports, the French government has hired hundreds more customs officers, and is now testing a state-of-the-art electronic customs system under both "hard" and "soft" Brexit scenarios. Calais also has invested millions in new infrastructure to assure fluid traffic for the thousands of trucks passing through daily.
"Those who believe there will be thousands of kilometers of traffic jams are mistaken," the French minister charged with customs, Gerard Darmanin, told reporters recently.
Even with a no-deal Brexit, officials predict most merchandise will be able to transit without full customs checks for the first few months. Online forms, to be filled out ahead of time, aim to avert bottlenecks for other goods, like livestock and produce, which local officials estimate amounts to just 9% of total traffic.
Brexit's larger local backlash remains a big unknown. Cross-channel trade for the broader Hauts-de-France region, which includes Calais, amounted to more than billion last year.
"Britain is the third biggest market for the north of France," after Belgium and Germany, said Lavallee. "If there are problems with the British market, there may be bad consequences."
A recent Chamber report found potential winners and losers in a no-deal Brexit. Local tourism, fisheries and port traffic may suffer. Some British-based companies might opt to relocate across the Channel, however, providing a much-needed boost for the region, one of France's poorest.
On the outskirts of town, the family-owned Carpentier trucking company is one of many making Brexit preparations. Transporting goods to and from Britain, mostly food and computer equipment, accounts for 20% of its business.
Already, says transport director Arnaud Dequidt, customers are piling up stock on either side of the Channel. Carpentier is conducting its own tests to see if customs agents are truly prepared.
"Whether it's a hard or soft Brexit, we'll still keep transporting to Britain," Dequidt said. "We can't do without Britain, so we'll adapt."
The city's relations with its cross-Channel neighbor have not always been positive. In the 14th century, it withstood a nearly yearlong English siege. The six town burghers who volunteered themselves as hostages in exchange for lifting it were captured in a famous Rodin sculpture, which today sits in front of city hall.
More recently, Calais captured headlines because of the tens of thousands of migrants squatting on its outskirts hoping to jump a truck or train to Britain where life, they thought, would be better than in France. The infamous "jungle" migrant camp was razed in 2016, and many migrants resettled.
Today, some are attempting Channel crossings by dinghies, with a reported spike in their numbers due to Brexit fears.
Still, taxi driver Hughes Vanpeene, waiting for customers outside the city's train station, dreams of a positive side to Brexit. Britons once flocked to Calais, thanks to a duty-free zone that ended in the 1990s. Despite the welcoming flags and pubs, their numbers have since shrunk.
"Here in Calais, we don't have English who take the ferry anymore. Most take the Eurostar" train to Paris, Vanpeene said. "But we think that with Brexit, duty-free will come back, and we'll again have people in Calais buying alcohol and cigarettes."
Lavallee is less optimistic.
"For us, it's very difficult to understand Brexit," he said. "For us, it's a big mistake. We hope England will change her position on Brexit."
"But," he adds, "If Brexit arrives, we will try capturing profits for the region."
從英吉利海峽（English Channel，The Channel）細長(slender，註 1)岬(spit，註 2)灣裡縱橫交錯(crisscross，註 3)的渡輪到不太整齊的(scruffy)市中心裡隨處可見的英國（United Kingdom，UK）國旗和酒吧，不難看出法國（France）加萊市（Calais）的發展重心所在。
「加萊是法國僅存的英式城鎮。」佛朗索瓦．拉瓦利（Francois Lavallee）開著玩笑說。他是法國北海岸(coastal)區商會（Chamber of Commerce）的會長。「法國和英國兩地的人際和商業互動頻繁。這種互動就像與生俱來那麼自然。」拉瓦利補充說明。
然而，英國預計脫離歐盟(Brexit，註 4)造成兩地在經濟與歷史上由來已久的(longstanding，註 5)關係出現裂痕(rupture，註 6)。即使倫敦（London）的政治局勢目前一片混亂(chaotic，註 7)，使得英國原定於 10 月 31 日（編按：2019 年）退出歐洲聯盟（European Union，EU）的前景愈發不確定，加萊市仍為了迎接這樣的轉變預作準備。
法國政府在當地和其他北部的工業(industrial)港已新聘了上百位海關(customs，註 8)官員，並以最先進的(state-of-the-art，註 9)電子海關系統對「硬脫歐（hard Brexit）」與「軟脫歐（soft Brexit）」兩種可能的局面(scenario，註 10)進行測試。加萊市為了確保每天路經當地的上千輛卡車能夠通行無阻(fluid，註 11)，也已投入數百萬資金興建新的基礎建設(infrastructure)。
杰拉爾德．達爾馬寧（Gerard Darmanin）是法國公共行動與財務部長，負責管理該國海關部門。他最近向記者表示：「那些認為海關會出現交通堵塞(traffic jam)長達上千公里的人錯(mistaken，註 12)了。」
即使英國最後採取「無協議脫歐（no-deal Brexit）」，法國政府官員(official，註 13)預估，大部分的貨物(merchandise)在最初的幾個月仍不需經過完整的海關檢查程序即能運送到目的地。業者也必須事先填寫網路申請表格，以避免(avert)家畜(livestock)和農產品(produce，註 14)等貨品在運輸過程中遭受阻礙(bottleneck，註 15)。當地官員估算，這些貨品總計(amount to . . .)僅占全部運輸量的 9 %。
當地是否會對英國脫歐出現更強烈的反應(backlash，註 16)仍是個未知數。加萊市所屬的上法蘭西大區（Hauts-de-France）的區域範圍更廣，這個地區去年（編按：2018 年）在橫跨英吉利海峽兩岸的貿易金額上就超過了 70 億美元。
「英國是法國北部的第 3 大市場。」拉瓦利解釋，法國與英國市場的貿易量僅次於該國與比利時（Belgium）和德國（Germany）的貿易量。「如果英國市場出了什麼問題，可能就會有不好的後果(consequence)。」
當地商會近期針對英國無條件脫歐下可能的受惠者與受害者進行調查。調查結果顯示，在地的旅遊業、水產業(fishery)和港口運輸可能遭受衝擊。此區是法國最貧窮的地區之一，不過，英國為主的公司可能選擇(opt，註 17)在英吉利海峽對岸重設據點(relocate，註 18)，此舉將有助於這一區急需增強(boost)的經濟。
位於加萊市郊區(the outskirts，註 19)的卡彭鐵爾（Carpentier）是家族企業型的貨運公司，目前就如同其他公司般，也正為著英國脫歐預作準備。英法兩地間的貨物運送(transport)占(account for . . .，註 20)了卡彭鐵爾營業總量的 20%，這些貨物以食物和電腦器材為主。
阿諾德．德基特（Arnaud Dequidt）是公司的運輸部主任。他指出，英吉利海峽兩岸的顧客目前都在囤積存貨(stock)。卡彭鐵爾也正進行(conduct)各項測試，以便了解負責海關業務的代理商(agent)是否已確實準備好因應措施。
「無論最後是硬脫歐還是軟脫歐，我們還是會持續送貨到英國。」德基特表示。「因為我們不能沒有英國，所以會努力適應(adapt)新的局勢。」
加萊市與英吉利海峽對岸的鄰居並非一直保持友好的關係。早在 14 世紀時，該市曾抵抗(withstand，註 21)英國的包圍(siege)長達近整整一年(yearlong)之久。當時有 6 位市民(burgher，註 22)為了讓加萊市不再受包圍所苦，自告奮勇成為人質(hostage)，這一幕也刻畫(capture)於著名的羅丹（Rodin）雕塑中。雕像現今則坐落在市府大樓前。
不久前，加萊市因為郊區出現數以萬計想要移居英國的移民(migrant)而上了頭條。這些移民認為搬到英國生活會比待在法國來得好，因此希望乘坐卡車或火車前往該國。加萊市當地聲名狼藉的(infamous，註 23)「叢林」移民營於 2016 年遭到徹底摧毀(raze)，許多移民因而移居到別處(resettle)。
有些移民目前正試圖透過搭乘小艇(dinghy，註 24)完成這趟跨海旅程(crossing，註 25)。據傳因為害怕英國脫歐，想要橫渡海峽的移民人數驟升(spike，註 26)。
火車站外等待顧客的計程車司機休斯．萬皮納（Hughes Vanpeene）仍對英國脫歐懷抱夢想(dream of . . .)。英國人曾為了購買免稅區(duty-free zone)商品蜂擁至(flock to . . .)加萊市，不過當地自 1990 年代就未再設置免稅區。儘管街道上仍隨處可見歡迎的(welcoming)旗幟和酒吧，但到訪的英國旅客數卻從此縮減(shrink)了。
「加萊市這邊的英國人不再搭乘渡輪了。他們大多數都搭歐洲之星（Eurostar）」到巴黎（Paris），萬皮納述說著。「但我們認為免稅風潮會因為英國脫歐再起，那麼許多人就會為了買酒和香菸而再度光臨加萊市了。」
對於英國脫歐一事，拉瓦利卻沒有那麼樂觀看待。
「我們實在很難理解英國為什麼要脫離歐盟。」他描述著。「在我們看來，這真是大錯特錯。真希望英國能夠改變脫歐的立場。」
「不過，」他補充說：「如果英國真的脫歐了，我們會努力地為加萊這個地區獲取盈利。」
Language Notes
註 1： slender 於本文指「細長的」；本字也常指「修長的；苗條的；纖細的」或「少量的」
註 2： spit 於本文指「岬」；本字另可指「（燒烤食物的）炙叉」或「唾液」；也可為動詞，常指「唾；吐」或「爆出火花」等
註 3： crisscross 於本文為動詞，意指「縱橫交錯」；本字原意為「使交叉成十字狀」；也可作名詞，意即「十字記號；十字形」
註 4： Brexit 由名詞 "Britain"「大不列顛；英國」與名詞 "exit"「退出；離開」兩者縮寫而成
註 5： longstanding 由形容詞 "long"「長久的」與名詞 "standing"「存在時間；持續時間」組成；本字也可拼成 "long-standing"，注意重音在第 2 音節
註 6： rupture 於本文為名詞；本字也可作動詞，意思是「（使）破裂；（使）不和」
註 7： chaotic 由名詞 "chaos"「混亂；雜亂狀態」和形容詞字尾 "-ic"「與 . . . . . . 有關；具有 . . . . . . 的本質」組成；注意重音在第 2 音節
註 8： customs 源於 "custom"「風俗；慣例」，於本文指「海關」，注意為複數形
註 9： state-of-the-art 注意重音在第 4 音節
註 10： scenario 於本文指「可能的局面，事態」；本字另有「情節；劇本」與「方案」等意思；注意重音在第 2 音節
註 11： fluid 於本文為形容詞，意指「交通順暢，通行無阻」；本字亦可指「流動的」、「流暢的」或「不固定的；易變的」；也可作名詞，意即「液體；流質，流體」
註 12： mistaken 於本文指「（人）弄錯的；誤解的」；本字也可指「（想法等）錯誤的；遭到誤解的」；注意重音在第 2 音節
註 13： official 於本文為名詞；本字亦可為形容詞，指「官員的；公務上的」、「官方的；正式的」或「公開的；公布的」；注意重音在第 2 音節
註 14： produce 於本文為名詞，注意重音在第 1 音節；本字也可作動詞，包含「生產；製造」、「引起；使產生」及「製作」等意，重音則在第 2 音節
註 15： bottleneck 由名詞 "bottle"「瓶子」與名詞 "neck"「頸，脖子」組成，意即「瓶頸；障礙」；本字另可指「狹窄路段；交通阻塞點」
註 16： backlash 由形容詞 "back"「後面的；後部的」和名詞 "lash"「甩動；擊，打」組成
註 17： opt 後面可接不定詞 "to V" 或介系詞片語 "for . . ."，意即「選擇 . . . . . .（某種行動）」
註 18： relocate 於本文指「重設據點」；本字原意為「（使）搬遷；（將 . . . . . .）重新安置」；注意重音在第 2 音節（美式發音）或第 3 音節（英式發音）
註 19： the outskirts 為名詞片語，注意為複數形，重音則在 "outskirts"「郊外；郊區」的第 1 音節
註 20： account for 為動詞片語，於本文指「（在數量上）占 . . . . . .」；本片語另可指「說明；解釋 . . . . . . 的原因」或「對 . . . . . . 負有責任」
註 21： withstand 由介系詞 "with"「與 . . . . . . 對立」和動詞 "stand"「承受住；禁得起」組成；注意重音在第 2 音節
註 22： burgher 注意 "h" 不發音
註 23： infamous 由表示否定意思的字首 "in-"「不；無；非」與形容詞 "famous"「著名的；出名的」組成；注意重音在第 1 音節
註 24： dinghy 的發音可分為英式與美式，英式為 [`dɪŋɡi]，美式為 [`dɪŋi]，注意兩種發音中，"h" 皆不發音
註 25： crossing 於本文指「跨海旅程」；本字也包含「交叉；交叉點」、「十字路口」及「岔道」等意
註 26： spike 於本文指「（數量）驟升」；本字亦常指「尖頭；尖狀物」；也可作動詞，意即「上升至極高的數量」
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Check your comprehension!
Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.
1. ( C ) According to the article, why are there online forms to be filled out beforehand?
(A) To declare the amount of money earned by selling the goods.
(B) To pledge that no drugs are smuggled across the Channel.
(C) To ensure smooth transportation of various commodities.
(D) To confirm that all the expiration dates of foods are correct.
2. ( A ) If the flocks of visitors to Calais rise after Brexit, what can be a possible reason to account for such increase?
(A) More and more people come to Calais to purchase duty-free items.
(B) Life has been so difficult since Brexit that people seek getaways in Calais.
(C) People are eager to be surrounded by the breathtaking scenery in Calais.
(D) Trips to Calais have become more affordable since Brexit.
3. ( D ) What can be inferred about local people's attitudes toward Brexit?
(A) The majority of residents in Calais are wholeheartedly against Brexit.
(B) Many residents do not express opinions as Brexit is too hard for them to understand.
(C) Most of the residents do not think Calais will suffer any adverse consequences from Brexit.
(D) The residents hold mixed opinions about Brexit, including both positive and negative ones.
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