| Publication |
2013.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The United States and 17 other countries signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on Sept. 25, pushing the number of signatories to the pact, which was opened for signature June 3, to 107.
Calling it a significant step toward controlling the illicit trade in conventional weapons, Secretary of State John Kerry signed the treaty on behalf of the United States, the world's largest arms exporter, in a ceremony at the United Nations. "This is about keeping weapons out of the hands of terrorists and rogue actors," Kerry said.
"It's significant that the United States, which [accounts] for about 80 percent of the world's export in arms, has signed," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told a news conference. In 2012, states engaged in arms transfers totaling more than $85 billion, not including black market transfers, according to the Congressional Research Service.
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