Overview
The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is the first legally binding agreement that sets international standards for regulating the global trade in conventional arms. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the ATT in April 2013, and it entered into force on December 24, 2014. The treaty is intended to require government regulation of transfers of military hardware, making illicit transfer more difficult while promoting transparency and accountability in the legal arms trade.
Scope and Coverage
The ATT covers a wide range of conventional weapons, including but not limited to: battle tanks; armored combat vehicles; large-caliber artillery systems; combat aircraft and attack helicopters; warships; missiles and missile launchers; small arms and light weapons.
It also applies to ammunition, parts and components that are specially designed for use in the applicable weapons systems.
Key Provisions
- Export and Import Controls: States Parties must establish and maintain effective national control systems to regulate arms exports, imports, transits and transshipments.
- Prohibited Transfers: Arms transfers are prohibited if they would violate UN Security Council arms embargoes or international treaties, or if there is knowledge that the arms would be used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
- Risk Assessment: Prior to authorization, exporters must assess whether weapons could be used to undermine peace and security, violate international human rights or humanitarian law, or facilitate organized crime or terrorism. If there is an overriding risk, the transfer must not be authorized.
- Diversion Prevention: Parties are required to take measures to prevent the diversion of arms to unauthorized end-users, including cooperation and information-sharing.
- Reporting and Transparency: States Parties must submit annual reports on authorized or actual exports and imports of covered arms categories. They must also provide initial reports detailing national implementation measures.
Membership and Global Participation
As of 2025, the ATT has:
- 116 States Parties
- 26 Signatories not yet ratified
Major arms exporters including the United States, Russia, and China have not ratified the treaty. The United States signed the treaty in 2013 but announced its intention to withdraw in 2019, stating it would not become a party. Many NATO members, EU countries, and states from Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific are active participants.
Implementation and Challenges
- Enforcement: The ATT relies on national implementation and does not include a supranational enforcement mechanism, raising questions about compliance and accountability.
- Divergent Interpretations: States interpret treaty provisions differently, particularly regarding the threshold for risk assessments and the scope of reporting obligations.
- Resource Constraints: Many states, particularly developing countries, face capacity challenges in implementing the treaty, despite support from the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund.
Significance and Impact
Despite limitations, the ATT represents a milestone in efforts to bring the arms trade under international regulation. It provides a normative framework that encourages responsible behavior, enhances transparency, and supports peace and security objectives. Civil society groups continue to play a vital role in monitoring treaty implementation and advocating for stronger compliance.
