Reflections from the Arms Trade Treaty: CARICOM Punching and Succeeding Above its Weight

Abstract

The global trade in most consumer goods is internationally regulated and carefully controlled. In contrast, the global trade in conventional arms and ammunition is not. This global trade business is valued at an estimated US$60 billion. Currently, there are no legally binding, universally applicable criteria governing the transfer of weapons across borders. In its absence, states have been largely free to decide what kind of weapons to sell and to whom. This is in spite of the fact that more than 2,000 people are killed every day through armed violence.