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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The chemical weapons conventional legal issues

Conference ·
OSTI ID:560473
 [1]
  1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
Because the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) contains the best developed verification regime in multilaterial arms control history, some have raised concerns for the chemical industry that have legal implications. Chief among these are safeguarding confidential business information and protecting constitutional rights during inspections. This discussion will show how the CWC and proposed national implementing legislation work together to allay these concerns. Both concerns are legitimate. Confidential business information could be lost to a national government or the CWC governing body accidentially or purposely. The CWC regime of routine and challenge inspections are searches under the constitution and could, if abused, potentially conflict with recognized commercial privacy interests. Neither concern justifies opposition to the convention, but both need to be addressed in national implementing legislation. Proposed US legislation goes far in this direction, but can be improved.
OSTI ID:
560473
Report Number(s):
CONF-970443--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English