Economist: The economy of the Republic of Nantau has experienced lower than expected growth in the past year,
and the value of its currency has dropped against the Yen. As a result, purchases of imported goods, such as usually luxury items or high-end electronics, will likely decrease as people turn to cheaper domestic equivalents.
However, this will likely help reverse the negative economic trends by creating a trade surplus as export goods become cheaper. In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
(B) The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.
(C) The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
(D) The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that prediction.
(E) The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.
Please explain your solution.