ANS Commends Committee Action to Move Vietnam 123 Agreement Forward
Action endorses importance of U.S. in global nuclear marketplace
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) commends the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for approving Senate Joint Resolution 36, which will move the US-Vietnam civilian nuclear cooperation agreement forward.
The agreement will allow US nuclear businesses to compete with their counterparts in other nations to provide Vietnam with nuclear reactor systems and associated services. In turn, Vietnam agrees to a comprehensive package of security and non-proliferation measures.
“Today's actions by Senator Menendez and the Committee Members demonstrate the emerging consensus that US commercial nuclear engagement is an important component to US safety and nonproliferation policy,” said Craig Piercy, ANS Washington Representative.
The committee also readily rejected two amendments that would have placed additional restrictions on the ability of the US to negotiate new 123 agreements with other nations.
ANS believes that the United States should remain committed to facilitating an expansion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy through the export of US nuclear goods and services. Exports of nuclear technology provide the United States with important nonproliferation advantages, including consent rights on US-manufactured nuclear fuel, the ability to control the transfer of nuclear technology, and greater influence in the nuclear policies of US partner nations.
