Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Cooperation (2012–present)
U.S. Agencies
Department of Energy
Department of State
Department of Commerce
Environmental Protection Agency
Japan Agencies
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology
Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
Ministry of the Environment
Meeting Frequency
1x/year for high-level meetings; working-group meetings ad hoc
Context
- Launched in 2012 following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Operation Tomodachi relief effort.
Goals
- To promote the safe use of nuclear energy and to contribute to mitigation efforts at the Fukushima nuclear reactors damaged in 2011.
Significance
The commission elevated bilateral civil nuclear cooperation to a more senior level and expanded the scope of their discussion from mostly nonproliferation and security to include safety, emergency response, and environmental issues. The two countries engage in joint technology projects, and U.S. experts collaborate with the cleanup at Fukushima.