In the News

India’s cabinet recently approved draft legislation that would give liability protection to civilian nuclear technology suppliers, thus removing the obstacles for civilian nuclear trade between India and the U.S.

The timing of the legislation, which was approved just before Prime Minister Singh’s visit to Washington, DC, was carefully chosen, according to Sanjay Jose Mullick, international trade counsel at Pillsbury’s Washington, DC office. “I think people were hopeful that this will open the doors now to some bold and swift action,” he said.

Although the legislation is not yet published, pending approval of the Parliament, Mullick said that according to early indications the industry should be pleased with how the legislation is written. “It does appear to check the boxes in terms of a couple of kinds of issues that are key, which are channeling liability of the operator … and accepting a level of liability in terms of the monetary amount that is sufficient,” he said.