US and UK Announce Historic Nuclear Trade Deal, Shaped by Third Way
WASHINGTON—The United States and the United Kingdom will formally announce a historic nuclear trade deal this week, clearing a path for the expansion of nuclear power throughout the United Kingdom and strengthening US global nuclear leadership. Third Way has long advocated for a close partnership between the US and UK on civil nuclear technologies, and played a key role in informing this agreement—particularly the novel inclusion of advanced nuclear reactors in a bilateral trade package.
“This is a win-win for the United States and the United Kingdom,” said Third Way SVP for Climate and Energy Josh Freed. “We know the United States will build first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies. The question has long been how we build the next reactor, the one after that, and the one after that. To expand America’s nuclear edge, we need trusted partners like the United Kingdom, who want to build more clean, reliable, firm power and won’t play ball with China to get the power they need. With this deal, both countries take a major step forward for energy and national security.”
Under the agreement, the United States and the United Kingdom will leverage one another’s safety assessments of reactor designs, expediting the timeline for nuclear licensing and deployment. This week’s announcements also include numerous agreements between US and UK firms, the largest of which pairs UK firm Centrica and US-based X-energy to build 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, England.
The bilateral agreement reflects the pillars that were driven in part by Third Way’s long-standing advocacy and recommendations for transatlantic nuclear partnerships, especially those included in the Atombridge report, drafted with UK consultancy Stonehaven: derisking supply chains, streamlining regulation through reciprocal licensing, propelling innovation on fusion, cooperating on workforce development, and co-financing projects. The emphasis will be on technology success, ensuring advanced modular reactors are commercially viable and globally competitive.
"When we released our Atombridge report, we hoped to see nuclear partnerships like this before the end of the decade. The US and UK governments have delivered in just a matter of months—establishing a framework that can be replicated with the rest of our allies," said Third Way Director of International Policy Christel Hiltibran.
This agreement can serve as a model for strategic civilian nuclear partnerships with the United States. It will benefit both the US and UK, and can be the basis for deals that go bigger and deploy even faster. Governments must remain agile, cutting bureaucratic red tape while maintaining strong safety and security standards. Reciprocal licensing and tight, transparent partnerships are paramount. By embedding advanced nuclear in trade, the US and UK are positioning themselves to lead in the global race for advanced nuclear deployment—and these deals move us further on the path to true commercialization.