U.S. Export
By Ron Kirk,Clean and Safe Energy
Coalition.
Ron Kirk
Ambassador Ron Kirk is co-chair of the
Clean and Safe Energy (CASEnergy)
Coalition. He most recently served
in the cabinet of
President Barack
Obama as his U.S.
Trade Ambassador,
the President’s
principal trade
advisor, negotiator,
and spokesperson
on trade issues.
Ambassador Kirk
also served two
terms as the mayor
of Dallas. A native
Texan, Ambassador
Kirk graduated from
Austin College and
earned a law degree
at the University of
Texas School of Law.
Responses to questions by Newal
Agnihotri, Editor of Nuclear Plant
Journal.
1.
How does the United States plan
to take advantage of the existing global
export opportunity for nuclear energy
related products and services?
As other countries recognize the
strengths of clean-air nuclear energy for
their efforts to curb carbon emissions,
the number of nuclear facilities under
construction around the world continues
to increase, creating a range of export
opportunities for the U.S.
The economic benefits of peace-
ful nuclear trade are substantial – right
now, there are 72 new nuclear energy
facilities under con-
struction around the
world – with another
170 in the licensing
or advanced planning
stages. The fastest re-
gion of growth is in
Asia – with 28 facili-
ties currently under
construction in China.
American technology
designs and experi-
ence will be indis-
pensable to these ef-
forts. Four Westing-
house AP1000 power
plants are currently
under construction in
China and Westing-
house is in talks with
Chinese authorities to sell up to eight ad-
ditional plants.
The U.S. Department of Commerce
estimates the broader international mar-
ket for equipment and services at $500 bil-
lion to $740 billion over the next 10 years,
and that every $1 billion of exports by U.S.
companies supports 5,000 to 10,000 domes-
tic jobs. But the opportunities it provides
to strengthen the nonproliferation regime
and enhance international nuclear safety
practices are just as compelling.
Unfortunately, there are some
unnecessary impediments to exporting
nuclear energy technology and materials
to other countries. Some nations that
are developing new peaceful nuclear
programs do not yet have in place a U.S.
agreement for nuclear energy cooperation
– a prerequisite for trade. Without these
so-called “Section 123” agreements in
place, markets in these countries are
closed to American suppliers.
2.
What are the current efforts in place
to simplify the export licensing for nuclear
energy related products and services?
The regulations governing the
export of nuclear energy technology
have not been substantially updated
in almost three decades. The Energy
Department is currently updating these
regulations but more must be done to
ensure that U.S. licensing requirements
do not divert international business to
non-U.S. competitors. For example, for
major markets such as China, the United
States should find a way to expedite the
government-to-government assurances
needed to facilitate export.
3.
Is there a “one stop” licensing
procedure to expedite the export licensing
for nuclear energy products and services?
One of the reasons the U.S. licensing
regime is so complex is because
responsibility is divided between three
departments and agencies. The NRC
licenses the export of nuclear equipment
and material. But typically years before,
a nuclear supplier must obtain a license
from the Energy Department to export the
underlying technology. If the technology
is dual-use for nuclear and non-nuclear
applications, then they must obtain
an additional export license from the
Commerce Department.
4.
How does Ex-Im bank help the
vendors interested in exporting their
products and services overseas?
The Export-Import Bank of the
United States (Ex-Im Bank) is one of
the country’s most important tools to
increase exports and create jobs. The
Ex-Im Bank provides direct financing,
loan guarantees and other products for
billions in U.S. exports, which support
thousands of U.S. jobs in the challenging
environment of international sales. And,
the Ex-Im Bank does not cost taxpayers;
it actually returns money to the Treasury.
5.
What is being done to encourage
vendors, who are apprehensive of the
export regulations, to get interested in
export?
There are those within the industry
who would certainly say that U.S.
nuclear suppliers bear a disadvantage
(Continued on page 38)
34
NuclearPlantJournal.com Nuclear Plant Journal, July-August 2014
