In brief: The Arms Trade Treaty - trying again - Commons Library Standard Note

Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05802

Authors: Jon Lunn

Topic: Arms control, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human rights, United Nations

In July 2012, a final round of negotiations to agree a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) took place at the UN in New York. The negotiating process came tantalisingly close to success, but on the last day of talks the US and a number of other countries said that they needed more time to consider the treaty text that was on the table. However, the UN General Assembly has just agreed to convene a further UN Conference in March 2013. One way or another, the odds favour a treaty being agreed next year - either by consensus at the March conference, or by a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly itself.

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