{"id":2202297,"date":"2023-09-20T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T23:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202297"},"modified":"2023-09-19T16:04:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T07:04:00","slug":"u-s-court-denies-westinghouse-lawsuit-korean-nuclear-exports-remain-challenged","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/09\/u-s-court-denies-westinghouse-lawsuit-korean-nuclear-exports-remain-challenged\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. court denies Westinghouse lawsuit; Korean nuclear exports remain challenged"},"content":{"rendered":"
In a significant legal development, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia <\/span>dismissed<\/span><\/a> a <\/span>lawsuit<\/span><\/a> that Westinghouse Electric Company lodged against its South Korean rivals, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO). Last October, Westinghouse asserted that the <\/span>APR1400<\/span><\/a> Korean nuclear reactor, which KHNP intended to export to Poland and the Czech Republic, incorporated its proprietary technology. This technology, Westinghouse claimed, falls under the U.S. <\/span>Atomic Energy Act<\/span><\/a>\u2019s export controls, necessitating a U.S. government license for any overseas transfer.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the court ruled that Westinghouse lacked the standing to sue over the enforcement of\u00a0<\/span>a U.S. export control regulation called <\/span>Part 810<\/span><\/a>. KHNP contended that they initially collaborated with Westinghouse in the reactor\u2019s early development phases, but the models it now aims to export emerged from independent Korean innovation and thus remain outside the purview of U.S. export restrictions. While this ruling alleviates potential legal pressures for KHNP in its international dealings, the central contention \u2014 whether the Korean reactor technology belongs to Westinghouse or Korea \u2014 remains unresolved by the court.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n The decision by the District Court for the District of Columbia to reject the complaint filed by Westinghouse against KHNP and KEPCO offers a semblance of relief to South Korea\u2019s nuclear export endeavors. Notably, this decision could ease South Korea\u2019s efforts to construct a nuclear power plant featuring its reactors in Poland. Poland <\/span>initiated<\/span><\/a> its approval process to build such a facility in August, but KHNP had been hesitant to start essential preparations, such as feasibility assessments, due to its ongoing legal dispute with Westinghouse.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the court\u2019s reluctance to definitively determine whether the APR1400 reactor technology belongs to Westinghouse or is a product of South Korea\u2019s independent development raises the specter of prolonging the dispute. Westinghouse will likely appeal the district court\u2019s decision, which, in turn, could further delay South Korea\u2019s aspirations to <\/span>expand<\/span><\/a> its nuclear export portfolio. Moreover, despite the court\u2019s ruling, some uncertainty lingers regarding U.S. government support. KHNP\u2019s previous experience, wherein the U.S. Department of Energy <\/span>responded unfavorably<\/span><\/a> to its report on a nuclear power project in the Czech Republic, accentuates these concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n Potential legal delays and U.S. governmental hesitation could disadvantage South Korea in the fiercely competitive nuclear export market. Such hindrances could provide an opening for U.S. companies, like Westinghouse, to solidify their <\/span>international<\/span><\/a> partnerships<\/span><\/a>, potentially overshadowing South Korea\u2019s offerings. However, while these commercial disagreements unfold, it remains unlikely that they will negatively impact the robust U.S.-South Korea diplomatic ties, particularly under the Yoon administration. The broader bilateral relationship, underpinned by shared geopolitical and economic interests, appears poised to weather this commercial storm.<\/span><\/p>\n