U.S. relaxes bid to halt atom enrichment tech sales

[Ian David]

Source: Reuters

VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States has given up a bid to ban uranium-enrichment technology sales to non-nuclear states, instead proposing criteria for such transactions to win over critics in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, diplomats say.

But Canada and possibly some others in the 45-nation NSG may not be satisfied with parts of the new approach, the diplomats, familiar with the matter but asking for anonymity due to political sensitivities, told Reuters.

Washington's shift was the subject of a two-day consultative NSG meeting that began in Vienna on Monday. A decision on the U.S. move -- which must be made by consensus -- would be left to the group's next plenary session in Berlin on May 19-23.

The NSG seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by curbing transfers of technology of possible use in building atom bombs. But enriched uranium is also the basis of peaceful nuclear energy, for which demand in developing nations is rocketing.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL21153820080421?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

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