A presentation to the regional conference for Latin America and The Caribbean on the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, in Bogota Colombia 18-19 November 2014. The conference was sponsored by the EU and organised by the German trade controls Department, BAFA, to help government officials from the region better understand the requirements for implementing the treaty and to set out what sources of help and advice are available, particularly from the EU. The presentation describes the strong, global support of defence companies for the treaty and identifies 5 themes which companies believe will be key to its successful implementation.

1. Regional Seminar to Support the Implementation of the
Arms Trade Treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean
Bogotá, Colombia
18-19 November 2014
An Industry Perspective on the
Arms Trade Treaty
Richard Tauwhare
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2. Industry Supports the ATT
 Responsible defence and security companies fully support robust
export and trade controls which:
 Protect international, regional and national security
 Prevent terrorism and crime
 Protect human rights violations
 Prevent illegal arms trading
 This is good for their business and reputation
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3. Industry Benefits from the ATT
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 A successful ATT through the introduction of
common standards will deliver major benefits to
industry:
 Strengthening legitimate trade
 Closing down illegitimate trade
 Levelling the playing field
 Fostering international collaboration
 Strengthening and widening global supply chains
 Supporting the development of national
production
 Building confidence in continuity of arms supplies
 So industry welcomes the ATT as an historic
achievement, one they were proud to be part of
negotiating and are now committed to help implement

4. Five Priorities for Industry
1) Universal
2) Partnership
3) Effective
4) Efficient
5) Consistent
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5. 1) Universal
 To deliver its many potential benefits, ATT must have the
widest possible membership
 If adherence by only like-minded states was enough, we
could have had an ATT many years ago. But the
negotiations were deliberately inclusive
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6. 1) Universal
 Work hard for more signatures and ratifications and avoid actions
which could undermine universality
 ATT is far from perfect. But the best which could be negotiated.
Securing near-consensus came at cost of making compromises.
Avoid re-opening hard-fought agreements in the text
 An incentive for states to sign is that it gives them a ‘seat at the
table’. Include observers in the preparatory process
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7. 2) Partnership
 close partnership between Governments, civil society and
industry throughout the negotiations
 Recognised in the Preamble of the Treaty
 Industry in particular will have a key role to play in its
implementation
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 Continue intelligent, constructive dialogue with industry and
include them, like civil society, fully in the preparatory process

8. 3) Effective
 requires implementation by national
governments – including exporters, importers,
transit countries
 each state that joins the treaty assumes
national responsibility for the arms that leave
its territory, as well as the arms that enter its
territory
 No ‘one size fits all’ solutions – should be
tailored to your particular circumstances
 Poses challenges. But much scope to learn
from others’ mistakes
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9. 3) Effective
 External co-operation available, with extensive
expertise and experience. Not only to write new
laws. But also to build capacity to enforce the laws.
 Places substantial burden on industry. But justified
and supported if it effectively delivers the potential
benefits
 Protect the reputation of industry by preventing
arms trades with unacceptable of misuse or
diversion, while facilitating legitimate trade
 Pursue effective multilateral co-operation against
illegal arms trade
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10. 4) Efficient: 9 Tips
1) Minimise bureaucracy. Keep rules and processes simple and clear
2) Licensing should be rigorous and rapid, with published targets and
performance statistics
3) Licensing should be predictable and transparent
4) Provide guidance, training and awareness
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11. 4) Efficient: 9 Tips
5) Be responsive to suggestions for improvement, consult industry
on proposed changes, maintain regular dialogue
6) Provide Open/General Licences for lower risk trade
7) Enable applications and reporting online
8) Observe commercial confidentiality
9) Integrate trade controls with sanctions controls
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12. 5) Consistent
 ATT should be applied consistently within and across States Parties
 Establish level playing field, based on common standards
 Key roles for Secretariat and the Conference of States Parties to
promote transparency, ensure consistency
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13. 5) Consistent
 Enable and promote co-operation,
particularly on implementation and
preventing diversion
 Make mechanisms work e.g. dispute
resolution, requests for information
 Raise questions and challenge actions, or
lack of action, which may be inconsistent
with the Treaty
 Ultimately: build confidence in the process
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14. Conclusion
 To achieve ATT’s full potential, we should work to:
 Make it universal
 foster partnership between Governments, industry and civil society
 Implement the treaty effectively and efficiently
 Ensure implementation nationally and internationally is consistent,
so that all parties have full confidence in the Treaty
 A successful ATT will strengthen international peace, security and
human rights, and promote legitimate trade and industry
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15. Thank You
Any questions?
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Richard Tauwhare
Green Light Exports Consulting
Email: richard@greenlightexports.co.uk
Web: www.greenlightexports.co.uk
Phone: +44(0)770 311 0880