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in the U.S. there exists a political sensitivity to Japan on 

 economic grounds. On the other hand, the EC, with whom 

 collaboration would be the least controversial, shows little 

 interest. These points are realized to the following 

 conclusion: 



LARGE-SCALE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION CAN BE ACHIEVED 

 BUT NOT QUICKLY 



The U.S. Government is perceived by some as lacking a 

 firm commitment and a realistic plan to develop fusion. A 

 clear policy statement on the goals of the U.S. fusion 

 program and a corresponding plan to meet these goals not 

 only would be helpful for evaluating proposed major 

 international cooperative projects but would also improve 

 perceptions of the U.S. commitment. The U.S. is also 

 perceived by some as an "\anreliable partner." The annual 

 fxmding appropriation process makes it difficult for the 

 U.S. to commit to multiyear projects without the possibility 

 of facing a choice later of either going, back on the 

 commitment or sacrificing other elements of the fusion 

 program. Requesting explicit budget items for international 

 projects, after clear identification of the obligations 

 implied for subsequent years, may ease the problem. The 

 above factors result in the following conclusion: 



