The Toronto negotiations were the first in a series that is expected to lead, by the end of 2002, to an agreement on the joint implementation of ITER. Canada, Europe and Japan are all offering sites for construction of the estimated $5 billion project. This agreement would govern, under international law, the construction, operation and decommissioning of ITER.

Matters covered in the discussions also included the site-selection criteria and process, the cost sharing and procurement allocation schemes. This first round of negotiations followed preparation meetings in Vienna in July, and in Moscow in June. During the week there were also a series of discussions by experts supporting the negotiations, including international workshops on aspects of the Canadian site offer to host ITER.

The participants in the negotiations took important first steps on a variety of issues, and plan to hold the second round of negotiations in Japan in January of 2002.

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Natural Resources Canada