China's toy market， normally a major part of the country's exports， faced a tough Christmas as the worldwide recession began to bite. Chinese manufacturers were expecting a boost in export orders in preparation for the holiday season， but instead concerns about parents' ability to buy expensive gifts for their children this year have impacted Western demand. One businessman said that demand was \"at half the level of last year\".

隨著全球經濟的惡化，通常為中國外貿出口的重要組成部分的玩具業(yè)面臨一個艱難的圣誕節(jié)。中國制造商原本期望為節(jié)日訂購玩具的訂單會大增，但現在卻擔心父母今年為孩子們購買昂貴禮物的能力會降低從而況導致西方需求量的減少。一位商人說：“今年的需求量是去年的一半?！?/p>

China is a global Santa Claus， producing approximately 70% of the world's toys， from cheaply made plastic dinosaurs to mega-expensive toy planes and cars. Millions of Chinese workers depend upon the whims of Western children for their jobs. The government has taken quick action to help Chinese toymakers through the downturn， raising the tax rebate for exports from 11% to 14%.

生產從成本低廉的塑料恐龍到超級昂貴的玩具飛機和汽車的中國可謂是全球的圣誕老人，生產的玩具大約占全世界玩具總量的70%，數百萬中國員工根據西方兒童的興趣來決定生產什么玩具。政府已經迅速采取行動，通過將出口退稅率從11%上調到14%來幫助中國玩具制造商度過難關。

Other Chinese exports， especially textiles， are suffering from the spectre of depression elsewhere.Export growth， which hit a high of 22% in the first nine months of this year， may drop to zero， or even negative growth this December. The Chinese economy has slowed down to under 10% GDP growth for the first time in five years – though 9% growth is a number that most other countries would kill for.

中國其它商品的出口，特別是紡織品出口，已經受到其它地區(qū)經濟衰退的影響。今年前9個月高達22%的出口增長率在12月可能會下降至零甚至出現負增長。中國經濟增長放緩，國內生產總值增長率在五年內首次低于10%，盡管9%的增長率對絕大多數其它國家來說簡直是不可想象的數字。

Chinese manufacturers responded positively to the government's announcement， though they still predicted bad times ahead. Production costs have risen， and concerns about safety have led to wide recalls in the US， damaging Chinese brand images. Wang Zhiguang， the spokesman of the Dongguan Toy Industry Association， said that \"Of the 3800 toy firms in Dongguan， no more than 2000 are likely to survive the next couple of years.\" With domestic growth making up an ever-increasing part of orders， however， and millions of Chinese parents keen to spoil their children with the best gifts， perhaps the next year will see a happier Christmas for these businessmen.

中國制造商積極與政府相配合，但是他們依然認為前景不景氣。生產成本上漲，加上因安全隱患而從美國召回大批產品這一情況嚴重破壞了中國的品牌形象。東莞玩具業(yè)協會發(fā)言人說：“東莞3800家玩具制造廠中能夠在今后兩年里幸存下來的可能不到2000家?！辈贿^內需的擴大會拉動部分訂單的增加，數百萬中國父母因溺愛孩子喜歡為孩子購買最好的禮物，也許明年會給這些商人帶來一個快樂的圣誕節(jié)。