The Nuclear Suppliers Group ended last week's meeting inconclusively over the question of whether to grant India access to nuclear fuel and technologies for civilian use. The NSG, an international body composed of 45 member nations, including Japan, controls the trade in nuclear technologies and related equipment and materials with a view toward reducing nuclear proliferation.
The NSG is expected to hold another session in early September. A unanimous vote is necessary to revise NSG guidelines. India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and one of the NPT's principles is not to assist non-NPT members in nuclear development even if it is for peaceful purposes. An NSG offer of exceptional treatment to India would undermine the NPT regime. Japan should not support any move to grant waiver to a non-NPT member.
The United States and India signed an agreement in July 2007 to assist India with nuclear power generation for civilian use. The U.S. apparently wants to check the influence of China and expand nuclear-related business through the pact. For the pact to take effect, the International Atomic Energy Agency must endorse a safeguard agreement with India, the NSG must approve exceptional treatment for India, and the U.S. Congress must ratify the pact. India has overcome the first hurdle, although the safeguard agreement does not cover eight of India's 22 reactors.