A treaty to regulate the estimated $85 billion trade in conventional arms opened for signature at U.N. headquarters in New York Monday. The Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on April 2 and ties the selling of arms to the human rights record of purchasing countries. It also regulates the transfer of arms to prevent the diversion of weapons from their stated recipient. More than 50 countries signed the treaty on its opening day, led by Africa, the European Union, and Latin American states. The treaty goes into effect once it has been ratified by 50 states.
