Ac version 3 Observation 1: sq 4

Counterplan Answers

***International CPs***

US Key

US Key: Experience Regs

US key – experience in regulation

Holdren, Sunstein, and Siddiqui 11

[John Holdren is the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Cass Sunstein is the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Islam Siddiqui is the Chief Agricultural Negotiator and is an Office of United States Trade Representative. “Policy Principles for the U.S. Decision-Making Concerning Regulation and Oversight of Applications of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials” June 9 2011, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/for-agencies/nanotechnology-regulation-and-oversight-principles.pdf]

Building consumer trust and confidence in a sound regulatory regime is integral to fostering innovation and promoting the responsible development of nanotechnology applications. Federal agencies will strive to provide their stakeholders with clear information that delineates the specific risks identified and the context in which they arise. It is important that Federal agencies manage expectations realistically -­ neither overselling nor underselling the potential benefits or risks. This framework is expected to evolve in response to the experiences of the Federal agencies and other stakeholders. As noted above, future scientific and other developments will almost certainly lead to refinements in agencies' approaches. Indeed, as experience with other technological innovations has shown, scientific progress and greater awareness of the effects of emerging technologies have enabled regulatory approaches to be modified to reflect a more complete understanding of the potential risks and benefits involved. A similar evolution is anticipated in the regulation and oversight of nanomaterials. Over time, modifications may need to be made through administrative or legislative actions.

U.S. Key: Relationship/Expertise

US key to reorient nanotech sector—Mexico’s key

Foladori et al 07- Professor at Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas; Invernizzi-Senior associate at the Wilson Center (Guillermo, Noela, “Nanotechnologies in¶ Latin America”, 12/2007, http://www.academia.edu/370692/Nanotechnologies_in_Latin_America)//VS

For the most part, there are two features that distinguish the nanotechnology initiatives¶ in Argentina and Brazil from the Mexican. On one hand, México is missing¶ a tangible plan for the development and research of nanotechnology. On the¶ other, the United States plays an important role in most of the cooperation agreements¶ signed by México and in the creation of new positions inside Mexican high¶ technology industries. This last feature is, to some extent, logical since México¶ and the United States are neighbor countries and both are members of the North¶ American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”). However, this relationship gives a¶ special character to the development of nanotechnology in México.

U.S. Regs Modeled

And, U.S. will be modeled – U.S. Regulations and Nano Development key

Mentink, 2004

[S.A.M., Philips Research Eindhoven, “National Nanotechnology Initiative: From Vision to Commercialization,” June]

The US wishes to take the lead in nanotech and define the rules of the game but many obstaeles exist. Small business funding is hard to come by. Venture capital money goes to scale up companies rather than start-ups. Most of the NNI money goes to universities and national labs that have only renamed their programs (not a lot of extra money). Education is as big a problem as anywhere. Not enough science teachers, students prefer a high salary after law school above the uncertainties of a science career. The US will remain a need for large influx of foreign scientists and students. But Japan, China and Korea and also Europe will be very competitive. A lot of the science programs overlap, investigate similar programs. The most innovative research takes place in the nanobiotechnology area (especially at MIT and Cornell). More incremental R&D such as sensor research is already providing spectacular results in many fields. Energy production, storage and distribution are perhaps the most important areas to get into. Until the energy problem is solved, efficiency is the word, directing us to fields as LED lighting and low-power electronics. System design, system in package and cooling in the package were also mentioned as important areas. Very significant up-tooling of the infrastructure is required and already taking place. Some call for an affordable SPM in every classroom. Because of the powerful public voices in the US, the regulations and rules for responsible development may be pioneered and/or dictated by the US.

U.S. Regs k International Coop

Federal regulations key to international cooperation

Matsuura 6 (Jeffrey H. Matsuura, Assistant Professor and Director of the Program in Law & Technology at the University of Dayton Law School in Dayton, Ohio, “Nanotechnology Regulation and Policy Worldwide,” July 2006, http://site.ebrary.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/lib/umich/docDetail.action?docID=10160965, AC)

 

Expanded international use of nanotechnology, and associated regulatory action at the national level in different jurisdictions, can also lead to multinational regulatory action. Existing international treaties may be modified to account for global nanotechnology activity. Also possible are new treaty initiatives directed specifically toward nanotechnology development and use. Multinational attention to nanotechnology is likely to focus initially on environmental, health, safety, and national security regulations. Part of the appeal of coordinated multinational regulatory¶  Regulatory action by multiple governments need not always be the source of international tension. By collaborating and coordinating with each other as they consider nanotechnology and its implications, nanotechnology regulation can become, at least in part, a foundation for international cooperation. By sharing information and communicating on objectives, governments can face the regulatory challenges posed by nanotechnology in a collaborative way. That collaboration may result in more effective regulation and may help to improve international relationships. In this way, nanotechnology oversight holds the potential to promote more comprehensive and effective cooperation between nations. We are seeing examples of such collaboration among governments on nanotechnology regulation in the European Community, for example.

Nano Leadership

US nanotech leadership declining – key to economy, global leadership, manufacturing, health care, energy, environment – now is key

Vickers 11 – Journalist for the Medill News Service (Hannah, “Concerns raised over American competitiveness in nanotechnology”, Medill Washington, 7/14/11, http://medilldc.net/2011/07/concerns-raised-over-american-competitiveness-in-nanotechnology/)//BD

WASHINGTON – While America has been at the forefront of nanotechnology for more than a decade, other countries are rapidly catching up and the U.S economy could suffer if America’s frontrunner status is not preserved, a top nanotechnology expert told Congress on Thursday. ¶ Testifying before a Senate science subcommittee, Chad Mirkin, director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University, said the United States is positioned to make “extraordinary strides” in nanotechnology over the next decade, but cautioned that America is not alone. ¶ The committee is considering a bill to reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative, created in 2000. The NNI program coordinates more than a dozen federal agencies involved in nanotechnology funding and research. ¶ Countries all of the world, including China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Germany, are building efforts to rival NNI, Mirkin warned ¶ “If the United States does not act now and aggressively pursue the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, we will lose our position as the global leader in this transformative field,” he said. “Moreover, we will lose the opportunities it can afford us to build our economy and new manufacturing base.” ¶ Sen. John Rockefeller, Democratic chairman of the Commerce Committee, said he believes nanotechnology will play a key role in boosting the economy and creating jobs.¶ “There are significant economic and societal incentives to maintain our lead in this field,” Rockefeller said. “The global market for nanotechnology-related products was more than $200 billion in 2009, and projections suggesting that it will reach $1 trillion by 2015.” ¶ “It has the potential to transform almost every aspect of our lives by providing rapid routes to addressing some of the most pressing problems in health care, electronics, energy and the environment,” Mirkin said.