美元未來難測
The crisis surrounding a possible debt default by the US government is coming to a head, with mounting political gridlock between the Republican-majority House of Representatives and Democratic President Joe Biden.
可能的美國政府債務違約危機來到緊要關頭，共和黨佔多數的眾議院和民主黨總統拜登之間的政治僵局日益嚴重。
come to a head到緊要關頭with O OC附帶狀況的說明gridlock(n.)僵局
If a deal is not successfully reached, the consequences could be catastrophic for both the US and world economies.
如果不能成功達成協議，對美國和世界各經濟體的後果可能是災難性的。
reach a deal達成協議catastrophic(adj.)災難性的=disastrouscatastrophe(n.)大災難;大災禍disaster(n.)災難;災禍
At its basic level, this bipartisan standoff is about raising the debt ceiling, which “is the cap placed on the amount of money the government can borrow to pay for…the commitments already passed by Congress.”
在基本層面上，這場兩黨僵局是關於提高債務上限的問題，債務上限「是指政府可以借貸的金額上限，用於支付已經通過國會批准的預算承諾」。
at its basic level從基本層面來看bipartisan(adj.)兩黨的;跨黨派的standoff(n.)僵局;僵持局面raise the debt ceiling提高債務上限cap(n.)上限;限額place a cap on…對…設上限=set a limit on...commitment(n.)承諾
By failing to do this, the US government could effectively run out of funds and be unable to pay its bills by June 1.
如果未能提高債務上限，美國政府可能會在6月1日之前耗盡資金，無法支付帳單。
fail to RV 無法、未能做到…
If bondholders are not paid back, then the US would default on its debt, impacting everything from the stability of global financial markets to the stability of job markets.
如果債券持有人沒有得到償還，那麼美國將會違約，影響範圍大，可能衝擊全球金融市場和就業市場的穩定。
bondholder(n.)債券持有人default(v.)違約;不履行債務
One of the biggest losers could potentially be the US dollar, whose dominance and value could be undermined by a debt default.
最大的受害者之一可能是美元，美元的主導地位和價值可能因債務違約而受到損害。
dominance(n.)主導地位、支配地位、優勢undermine(v.)削弱;破壞;損害
For countries like China and Russia that have been leading a call for the “de-dollarization” of the global financial system, such an outcome would be welcomed due to its weakening effect on the worldwide reliance on the American currency.
對於像中國和俄羅斯這樣一直在呼籲全球金融體系「去美元化」的國家來說，這樣的結果將受到歡迎，因為它削弱了全球對美元的依賴。
de-dollarization(n.)去美元化weakening effect削弱效應
There is also a very real possibility for the US dollar to appreciate in value.
美元也非常有可能升值。
appreciate in value升值=increase or gain in valuedepreciate in value貶值=decrease or decline in value
Historically, this has already happened. In 2011, a close call with the US defaulting on its debt led to the country’s credit rating taking a hit and stocks falling by roughly 15% in the third quarter of the year.
從歷史上看，這種情況已經發生過。在2011年，美國差點債務違約，導致美國的信用評級受到打擊，美股在該年第三季度下跌了約15％。
a close call 僥倖脫險、有驚無險credit rating信用評級
Interestingly, though, the dollar became a “safe-haven asset,” strengthening as “a counterintuitive response to overall financial risk that could happen again.”
不過，有趣的是，當時美元升值，成為了一種「避險資產」，「這種與整體金融風險相悖的反應可能再次發生」。
safe-haven asset避險資產=safe haven assetcounterintuitive(adj.)反直覺的、與預期相反的
Before what some are imagining as a “doomsday scenario,” the only thing that remains certain is that time is short.
在一些人想像中的「末日場景」發生之前，唯一確定的是時間不多了。
doomsday scenario末日場景
Only if negotiations fail and the US defaults on its debts will the true fate of the US dollar become clear.
只有在談判失敗，美國債務違約時，美元的真正命運才會變得清晰。
only if…只有在…的時候，才能…