U.S. And Australia to Sign Bilateral Nuclear Energy Agreement

PRESIDENT George W. Bush and John Howard will sign a new bilateral nuclear power pact during APEC, committing both countries to share research and development expertise.

Although the agreement is not legally binding, it follows a similar agreement Washington struck with Japan and establishes a framework for Australia, should it decide to establish a nuclear power industry.

"There is a gap in our education and regulatory knowledge and this sets the pieces in place," said one source familiar with the agreement.

"It doesn't necessarily get us to the point where we could start building nuclear power plants, but this is an important agreement where we can learn from the Americans."

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