John Kerry Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty at General Assembly

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry signed the controversial U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, while attending the body’s annual General Assembly. If enacted, the treaty would allow for international regulation of the $70 billion-a-year conventional arms trade, which ranges from small arms to warships.

Because the treaty must be ratified in the Senate for the agreement to take effect for the US, Kerry’s signature is largely seen as a purely symbolic one. While the US has now joined 90 nations who who have signed it, it will likely remain with the majority of those countries by not going as far as to have the treaty ratified. Only four countries have yet done so.

Written by Chris Bacavis

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