自我學習成長

透過時事學習英文：聯邦法官駁回Visa和Mastercard與零售商之間300億美元刷卡費和解協議

歡迎來到「透過時事學習英文」，可以搭配以下影片一起使用，建議練習方式，更能有效吸收新聞時事內容、學習單字：

一、先聽2-3次影片中的英文內容

二、回到本篇文章看逐字稿

三、聆聽/閱讀中文翻譯確認理解程度

四、聆聽影片中單字、英譯、例句

五、回到本篇文章看單字中英解釋、中英例句

今天我們要討論的是這幾天的國際事件：俄羅斯和北韓日益緊密的聯盟。那就讓我們先看一次英文文章內容吧！

Federal Judge Rejects $30 Billion Swipe-Fee Settlement Between Visa, Mastercard, and Retailers

In a significant legal development, a federal judge has rejected a $30 billion antitrust settlement involving Visa, Mastercard, and a coalition of retailers. This ruling, delivered by Judge Margo Brodie of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, marks a critical setback in a dispute that has spanned nearly two decades.

The proposed settlement, reached in March, aimed to resolve litigation concerning the high swipe fees, or interchange fees, charged by Visa and Mastercard. These fees, which can range from 1.5% to 4% of each transaction, have long been a point of contention between credit card companies and merchants. The settlement would have provided temporary relief by slightly reducing these fees and allowing retailers more flexibility in how they manage card transactions.

Judge Brodie's decision highlights concerns about the adequacy of the settlement in addressing the competitive imbalance in the credit card industry. Retail trade groups, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, criticized the deal as insufficient, arguing it would allow Visa and Mastercard to continue their dominant practices.

The judge's ruling implies that Visa and Mastercard may need to negotiate a more favorable agreement for merchants or prepare for a trial. The outcome has significant implications for both small businesses and large retailers, as they continue to seek fairer terms in their dealings with credit card companies.

Visa and Mastercard expressed disappointment with the ruling, maintaining that the settlement offered a fair resolution. However, many in the retail sector, especially smaller businesses, viewed the decision as a necessary step towards achieving a more equitable system.

聽完這段新聞，現在就讓我們來看一遍中文版本吧！

聯邦法官駁回Visa、Mastercard與零售商之間的300億美元刷卡費和解協議

在一項重大法律發展中，聯邦法官駁回了Visa、Mastercard與零售商聯盟之間的300億美元反壟斷和解協議。這項裁決由美國紐約東區聯邦地區法院的馬戈·布羅迪法官做出，標誌著這場持續近二十年的爭端的一個關鍵挫折。

該和解協議於三月達成，旨在解決有關Visa和Mastercard收取的高額刷卡費（即交換費）的訴訟。這些費用可以佔每筆交易的1.5%至4%，長期以來一直是信用卡公司與商家之間的爭議焦點。該和解將通過略微降低這些費用並允許零售商在管理卡交易方面有更多靈活性來提供臨時緩解。

布羅迪法官的裁決突顯了對和解協議能否解決信用卡行業競爭失衡問題的擔憂。包括商戶支付聯盟和零售業領袖協會在內的零售貿易團體批評這項協議不足，認為它將允許Visa和Mastercard繼續其主導行為。

法官的裁決意味著Visa和Mastercard可能需要為商家談判出更有利的協議，或準備進入審判。這一結果對小企業和大型零售商都具有重大影響，因為他們繼續尋求更公平的交易條款。

Visa和Mastercard對裁決表示失望，堅稱該和解提供了一個公平的解決方案。然而，零售業界，特別是小企業，認為這一決定是邁向更公平系統的必要步驟。

接下來，我們一起來看看這篇新聞中提到的單字吧，每個單字都會先用英譯說明，並提供例句加深印象。

Antitrust (反壟斷)

1. Definition: Laws that promote competition and prevent monopolies.
2. 中文解釋：促進競爭和防止壟斷的法律。
3. Example: The government filed an antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant.

Settlement (和解)

1. Definition: An agreement reached between parties in a lawsuit.
2. 中文解釋：訴訟雙方達成的協議。
3. Example: The company reached a settlement to avoid a lengthy trial.

Interchange Fee (交換費)

1. Definition: A fee paid by merchants to credit card issuers for processing transactions.
2. 中文解釋：商家支付給信用卡發行者以處理交易的費用。
3. Example: The interchange fee for using premium cards is usually higher.

Merchants (商家)

1. Definition: Individuals or companies that sell goods or services.
2. 中文解釋：銷售商品或服務的個人或公司。
3. Example: Small merchants often struggle with high transaction fees.

Litigation (訴訟)

1. Definition: The process of taking legal action.
2. 中文解釋：採取法律行動的過程。
3. Example: The litigation over the patent infringement lasted for years.

Concessions (讓步)

1. Definition: Compromises made by one party in a dispute.
2. 中文解釋：爭端中一方做出的妥協。
3. Example: The negotiations required several concessions from both sides.

Surcharge (附加費)

1. Definition: An additional charge or payment.
2. 中文解釋：額外的費用或支付。
3. Example: Customers may face a surcharge for using premium credit cards.

Dominant (主導的)

1. Definition: Having power and influence over others.
2. 中文解釋：擁有對他人的權力和影響力。
3. Example: The company holds a dominant position in the market.

Equitable (公平的)

1. Definition: Fair and impartial.
2. 中文解釋：公平和公正的。
3. Example: The new policy aims to create a more equitable system for all users.

Com petitive Imbalance (競爭失衡)

1. Definition: A situation where competition is not equal or fair.
2. 中文解釋：競爭不平等或不公平的情況。
3. Example: The agreement sought to correct the competitive imbalance in the market.