The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
April 20, 2017

Addressing Proliferation Concerns in Renewed Bilateral Nuclear

Agreements by Pursuing Gold Standard
The Administration understands that nuclear power is a reliable, zero pollution producing,
and efficient mechanism for the generation of electricity. We further understand the concerns
that are raised with the sharing of nuclear technology around the world. It is with all this in mind
that a policy similar to the gold standard will continue to be pursued when negotiating 123
Agreements with other countries. This standard along with the continued use of peaceful civilian
nuclear energy will continue to foster diplomatic and economic ties between the United States
and other countries.

123 Agreements, so named for they are laid out in section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, allow for the sharing of nuclear technologies and materials between the United States and
another country. The gold standard was introduced in the U.S. – UAE 123 Agreement for
Peaceful Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation. The standard is met when a country voluntarily
commits to forgo domestic uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel and raw materials.

This standard will have two minor modifications to reflect concerns and realities in the
current international community. First, it will ensure that a country will be guaranteed access to
the materials it needs regardless of the geopolitical situation in order to allay concern of
becoming economically hostage by nuclear fuel. Second, a set of criteria will be developed that
will provide the ability for a country to obtain most favored nation status which allows them to
retain and operate reprocessing and enrichment facilities. This is necessary in order to greatly
reduce the amount of hot nuclear waste that must be stored as well as making the entire nuclear
fuel cycle significantly more efficient and cost effective.

The U.S. will continue to lead the way in peaceful nuclear energy use and technology. These
agreements will promote a more clean energy producing system and foster healthy diplomatic
relations with countries around the world. The Administration welcomes all countries that
support the goals of peaceful nuclear energy use, that work to prevent the proliferation of nuclear
technologies and materials that might be diverted from their intended purpose, and act in good
faith in creating a safer more prosperous world.