A: I'm glad we have settled the terms of payment. Is it possible to effect shipment during September?
A: 我们已经谈妥了付款条件，你方是否能够在九月份交货？

B: I don't think we can.
B: 我看不行。

A: Then when is the earliest we can expect shipment?
A: 那么最早什么时候可以交货呢？

B: By the middle of October, I think.
B: 恐怕要在十月中旬。

A: That's too late. You see, November is the season for this commodity in our market, and our Customs formalites are rather complicated.
A: 那太迟了。你知道，在我们那里九月份是这种商品的上市季节，我们的海关手续相当复杂。

B: I understand.
B: 我明白。

A: Besides, the flow through the marketing channels and the red tape involvoed take at least a couple of weeks. Thus, after shipment it will be four to five weeks altogether before the goods can reach our retailers. The goods must therefore be shipped before October, otherwise we won't be in time for the selling season.
A: 另外，通过销售渠道以及繁琐的公文程序，起码要花上两个星期。这样从交货到我们的零售商收到货，总共要用四至五个星期。因此，十月份之前货必须装上船，否则我们就赶不上销售季节了。

B: But our factories are fully committed for the third quarter. In fact, many of our clients are placing orders for delivery in the fourth quarter.
B: 我们工厂第三季度的生产任务已全部排满了。事实上，我们很多客户在订第四季度交的货。

A: Mr. Li, you certainly realize that the time of delivery is a matter of great importance to us. If we place our goods on the market at a time when all other importers have already sold their goods at profitalbe prices, we shall lose out.
A: 李先生，你当然知道交货时间对我们来说很重要。如果在我们把商品投放到市场上去的时候，别的进口商已经把商品脱手赚钱，那我们就亏了。

B: I see your point. However, we have done more business this year than any of the previous years. I'm very sorry to say that we cannot advance the time of delivery.
B: 这点我明白。但是今年我们做的贸易比以往哪一年都要大，非常抱歉我们不能提前交货。

A: That's too bad, but I do hope you will give our request your special consideration.
A: 那太槽了，我真心实意地希望你对我们的要求给予特别的考虑。

B: You may take it from me that the last thing we want to do is to disappoint a customer, particularly an old customer like you. But the fact remains that our manufacturers have a heavy backlong on their hands.
B: 你可以相信，我们最不愿做那些使顾客失望的事情，特别像你这样的客户，但是我们的厂家眼前的交货任务还是压得很重，这是事实。

A: But can't you find some way to get round your producers for an earlier delivery? Make a special effort, please. A timely delivery means a lot to us.
A: 你不能想些办法说服厂家提前一些时候交货吗？请你特别加把劲。适时地交货对我们关系可大啦！

B: All right, Mr Jones. We'll get in touch with our producers and see what they have to say.
B: 好吧，琼斯先生。我们和厂家联系一下，听听他们的意见。