Domestic Implementation of a Chemical Weapons Treaty

To determine the effects on and the role of industry in the event of implementation of a chemical weapons treaty, this report analyzes the way in which the proposed treaty can mesh with the U.S. regulatory system, examines whether and how existing reporting and inspection requirements or regulations can be used to facilitate domestic implementation, studies the domestic implementation procedures and experience gained from the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement, and develops some general observations and recommendations pertaining to legislative and regulatory approaches to U.S. treaty implementation. The authors describe the background of the present chemical arms control system and summarize the U.S. Draft Convention; list the specific chemicals that are included in either the U.S. Draft or the Rolling text and indicate the chemical-specific provisions; review the major regulations that are relevant to treaty chemicals and consider how databases associated with these regulations can be used for treaty compliance; identify producers of certain treaty chemicals and present case studies on two such chemicals; review and analyze the most pertinent arms control precedent for the type of domestic implementation scheme envisioned under the Chemical Weapons Convention.