US and Vietnam in controversial nuclear negotiations

The US is said to be negotiating a controversial agreement with Vietnam to provide nuclear fuel and technology without the usual constraints on enriching uranium to prevent proliferation. The deal has been under discussion for several months following Hanoi's announcement of plans to build 14 nuclear power stations over the next 20 years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Washington has required several other countries, most recently the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, to agree to source all their nuclear fuel on the international market and to renounce the right to enrich uranium as a requirement for assistance in developing nuclear power. Vietnam signed an initial memorandum of understanding on nuclear power with the Bush administration in 2001. But the Obama administration has accelerated talks in recent months as Vietnam reaches agreements with other countries including Russia which has been contracted to begin building a light water reactor for $8 billion in 2014. The US and Vietnam signed a new memorandum of understanding in April over broad cooperation on nuclear power including access to "reliable sources of nuclear fuel". An agreement would allow US companies such as General Electric and Bechtel to sell nuclear reactors and other equipment to Vietnam. But the talks have drawn criticism that Washington is setting a different standard for Vietnam than some other countries.