To the chagrin of the vast majority of the 84 participating signatory governments, the 1990 Geneva conference to review the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without adopting a final declaration reaffirming the parties' common commitment to the accord. In the early hours of September 15, 1990, Mexico insisted that the declaration include wording on a comprehensive nuclear test ban that was unacceptable to the United States. To achieve the consensus needed to ratify the final document, many parties were prepared to accept compromise language pushed by the U.S. on the test ban issue, according to Western sources. Yet, no final consensus emerged and, in keeping with the practice at past review conferences, no vote was taken. All conference participants had also reached informal agreement on numerous declarations supporting the treaty and endorsing important new steps to strengthen nuclear export standards and to expand the application of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The Western bloc, with the support of the Soviet Union and its former allies, pressed for consensus to insure that these elements would be formally adopted. Who won and who lost The United States and Mexico both gained, although far less than each had hoped.more » In the end, the international nonproliferation regime suffered the most serious losses. 6 refs.« less