N-deal: Several steps before Indo-US nuclear trade

I / Washington November 17, 2009, 13:21 IST

More than a year after Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was signed, a Congressional report has said that several steps, including submission of required certifications by President Barack Obama, remain to be taken by both the countries before American companies can begin nuclear trade with New Delhi.

The delay in the beginning of the nuclear trade between the two countries is causing a lot of anxiety among the US companies – which played a key role in its passage by the Congress – and also the US law makers, to whom the deal was sold as the one which would bring in economic gains to the US.

"New Delhi announced on October 16, 2009, the specific sites that it has designated for US-supplied reactors. However, several steps remain before US companies begin nuclear trade with India," said the report titled 'US Nuclear Cooperation With India: issues for Congress' by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Congressional Research Service is the independent bipartisan research wing of the US Congress, which prepares periodic reports on issues of interest to US law makers.

A copy of the report dated November 5 by Paul K Kerr, analyst in non-proliferation has been obtained by the PTI.