LONDON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Signing the U.N. arms treaty by the United States was the easy part in implementing landmark controls, British policy center Chatham House said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry added his signature to the list of 60 countries backing the measure since it was introduced in April. Kerry said his signature would help deter the transfer of conventional weapons "used to carry out the world's worst crimes."
Elli Kytomaki, an international security fellow at Chatham House, wrote Monday the U.S. signature may encourage China to follow suit, though Russia, another holdout, is likely to remain on the sidelines.
For Europe, Kytomaki said bloc-wide support may face bureaucratic obstacles though about 10 member of the European Union have ratified the treaty.
In the United States, Kytomaki said the National Rifle Association, a pro-gun lobby, said it was opposed to the treaty even though it doesn't affect domestic laws on the possession of weapons. She said the decision to ratify the treaty rests with U.S. lawmakers pressured by the powerful gun lobby.
"It might be impossible for the United States to join the Arms Trade Treaty any time soon," she said.
Despite the "good news" of growing support for the international treaty, Kytomaki said "many hurdles still remain."
