Symington Amendment

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The Symington Amendment is a 1976 addition to the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act that tightens U.S. rules on nuclear technology transfers. It says the United States cannot provide most economic or military aid or export credits to a country that transfers or receives nuclear enrichment equipment, materials, or technology, unless certain safeguards are in place.

Key points:
- Who it covers: any country that delivers, receives, or exchanges nuclear enrichment equipment, materials, or technology.
- What must be in place before such transfers: both the supplier and the recipient must agree to place all equipment, materials, and technology under multilateral management when possible, and the recipient must have an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreement covering the equipment, materials, and all nuclear fuel and facilities.
- Exceptions for aid: the President can approve aid in certain cases if he certifies in writing that stopping aid would harm vital U.S. interests and that the country will not acquire or help others acquire nuclear weapons.
- Congress’s role: Congress can pass a joint resolution to terminate or restrict such assistance if it disagrees with the President’s certification. The resolution follows the usual debate rules and, if passed, can block the aid.

Later developments:
- The Symington Amendment became part of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
- The Glenn Amendment (1977) added more sanctions against countries that acquire or transfer nuclear reprocessing technology or explode or transfer a nuclear device; these provisions are now also under AECA.
- The overall aim is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons by tying aid to responsible handling of nuclear technology.

Context:
- The policy reflects ongoing debates about how to apply sanctions, especially regarding allies, and about waivers and exceptions.