August 2010 ITU
- Table of Contents
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- National Export Initiative: Off to a Solid Start
- Green Jobs, Domestic Growth, and Overseas Sales: A Winning Combination
- Trade Mission, Agreements Promote U.S. Nuclear Technology in Eastern Europe
- Short Takes
- Trade Calendar
- Featured Trade Event: Sustainable Manufacturing American Regional Tour: Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in the Forest Products Sector
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Trade Mission, Agreements Promote U.S. Nuclear Technology in Eastern Europe
In Warsaw, Poland, on July 13, 2010, Francisco Sánchez (left), under secretary for international trade, and Hanna Trojanowska (right), Polish commissioner for nuclear energy, signed a joint declaration on civilian nuclear commercial cooperation (U.S. Department of State photo)
A recent trade mission to the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia promoted sales of U.S. civil nuclear energy technology. But it was also an opportunity to strengthen U.S. commercial ties in the region.
by John Ward
Paving the way for future sales of U.S. civil nuclear energy technology to the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, was the goal of a four-day U.S. trade mission to these countries July 12–16, 2010. Led by Francisco Sánchez, under secretary for international trade, the mission included representatives from 10 U.S. companies and organizations as well as officials from the Departments of State and Energy.
All three countries are expected to solicit bids from international vendors for building new nuclear power plants during the next several years. The projects range from an estimated $5 billion joint venture project in Slovakia, to an estimated $21 billion project in Poland, to an estimated $27.5 billion project in the Czech Republic.
Long-Term Importance
The projects have potential long-term importance to U.S. exports in the region. “It’s not just the $20 billion and thousands of high-paid U.S. jobs that … one of these deals [could] represent,” said Sánchez. “It’s getting a U.S. foot in the door of the emerging nuclear energy needs in Eastern Europe and the many nuclear plants that will be built there over the next decade. If we close one of these deals, many others will likely follow.”
Business participants in the mission seconded the sentiment. “The mission provided a powerful message that brought real results,” noted Anders Jackson, Westinghouse’s president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “Combining the strengths of our offers with … U.S. government focus and support [provides] tremendous opportunities for us and our partners.”
In 2008, the U.S. nuclear energy industry exported $285.7 million, most of it in fuel and fuel-related supplies. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, U.S. nuclear companies that same year procured $14.2 billion in materials, fuel, and services from domestic suppliers for their existing operating plants.
Cooperation and Dialogue
For More Information
The full text of the U.S.–Poland joint declaration is available on the website of the U.S. embassy in Warsaw. For more information about exporting to the Czech Republic, Poland, or Slovakia, contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723) or visit the U.S. government’s export portal at www.export.gov.
The signing on July 13, 2010, of a joint declaration on civil nuclear commercial cooperation with Poland and the announcement of the creation of a bilateral commercial dialogue with the Czech Republic showed the U.S. commitment to developing commercial ties in the region.
The agreement with Poland outlines both countries’ intent to encourage their private-sector entities to participate in constructing nuclear power facilities. It also calls for fostering scientific research and development and for promoting fair and open tender procedures.
The initiative undertaken with the Czech Republic calls for creating an ongoing dialogue to increase and strengthen U.S.–Czech bilateral economic and commercial ties. It was announced by Sánchez and Milan Hovorka, Czech deputy minister of industry and trade, after a meeting in Prague on July 15, 2010.
“We expect this new economic and commercial dialogue [with the Czech Republic] … to address topics that interest both sides, including market access, innovation, business development, and trade promotion,” said Sánchez.
John Ward is a writer in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs.
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