Enhancing Non-Proliferation Through Improved IAEA Transit Matching

The Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) fulfills the U.S. Govern- ment’s (USG) Reporting Commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other foreign countries. This responsibility is performed under International Safeguards Agree- ments consistent with commitments made by the USG as part of a series of Voluntary Reporting Requirements. The import and export information reported by the USG to the IAEA coupled with similar data provided by other IAEA Member States, serves as a critical element to achieve the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Transit Match- ing is the process used to ensure legitimate national and trans-national movement of specific ac- countable nuclear materials. In 2014, NMMSS undertook an exhaustive review and analysis of its transit matching experience. The NMMSS analysis identified significant insights on several factors that influence the effectiveness of the transit matching exercise. The inquiry also identi- fied areas of potential collaboration to improve overall transit matching practices in response to current NPT realities and challenges. The results of the review as well as the ensuing discussions between the IAEA and NMMSS are presented.