Australia, China to Begin Uranium Sale Negotiations

Australia said yesterday that any agreement in planned talks to supply China with uranium would include provisions restricting Beijing from using the material to create nuclear weapons, the Financial Times reported (see GSN, July 25).

“The agreement will establish safeguards arrangements to ensure Australian uranium supplied to China is used exclusively for peaceful purposes,” said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

Any uranium sales pact would be expected to follow protocols outlined in a 1985 deal between China and the United States that requires U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing for sales and that the uranium is used only for civilian projects (Tim Johnston, Financial Times, Aug. 10).

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