Nonproliferation Strategy in a Changing Nuclear Fuel Market

The 1978 United States Nuclear Nonproliferation Act places strict conditions on the technology activities of any nation that wants to buy nuclear goods and services from the U.S. There are serious questions whether the U.S. is in a position to essentially revise the worldwide nonproliferation regime. It appears unlikely the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation deliberations, called for by the U.S. in 1977, will yield general agreement in support of the Act, especially in view of the U.S.'s reduced dominance as a nuclear fuel supplier. The Act does not recognize the widely differing circumstances of other nations by not providing the long-term flexibility and accommodation necessary to reconcile U.S. policy.