U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy (CAT Policy) - 2021
As reported in early August 2021, the Biden administration is preparing a revised conventional arms transfer (CAT) policy, which provides guidance on how the United States will approach the trade of conventional weapons. It is expected that the new policy will in some ways stress human rights concerns more fully than that of the Trump administration policy, about which many experts expressed concern.
At the Arms Trade Treaty's Aug 30-Sept 3 Conference of States Parties in 2021, the U.S. representative said the policy would be "finalized shortly" and help in determining the "proper relationship" of the United States to that treaty, which President Trump had rejected. (That was not, however, repeated in the 2022 meeting.)
In comments to the Defense Trade Advisory group on November 4, 2021, Timothy Alan Betts said, in part, that under the forthcoming CAT policy, the "Administration will not approve arms transfers where we believe such transfers are not in our national interest because of the risk of diversion, civilian harm, misuse..."
This page currently includes resources on past policies, general policy recommendations from Forum-listed experts*, and other relevant material. It will be updated as information about the new CAT policy becomes available.
Forum-listed experts to contact on these subjects include Rachel Stohl, Jeff Abramson, Seth Binder, Elias Yousif, Annie Shiel
* The Forum itself does not take positions. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others. Please contact experts directly for comments.
At the Arms Trade Treaty's Aug 30-Sept 3 Conference of States Parties in 2021, the U.S. representative said the policy would be "finalized shortly" and help in determining the "proper relationship" of the United States to that treaty, which President Trump had rejected. (That was not, however, repeated in the 2022 meeting.)
In comments to the Defense Trade Advisory group on November 4, 2021, Timothy Alan Betts said, in part, that under the forthcoming CAT policy, the "Administration will not approve arms transfers where we believe such transfers are not in our national interest because of the risk of diversion, civilian harm, misuse..."
This page currently includes resources on past policies, general policy recommendations from Forum-listed experts*, and other relevant material. It will be updated as information about the new CAT policy becomes available.
Forum-listed experts to contact on these subjects include Rachel Stohl, Jeff Abramson, Seth Binder, Elias Yousif, Annie Shiel
* The Forum itself does not take positions. Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others. Please contact experts directly for comments.
Resources
Highly recommended from civil society
Government
Media
Highly recommended from civil society
- Jordan Cohen, "Biden's Conventional Arms Transfer Policy Could Be A Turning Point," War on the Rocks, November 29, 2021.
- Jeff Abramson, Annie Shiel, Seth Binder, William Hartung, Rachel Stohl, Adam Isacson and Daniel R. Mahanty, "At 100 Days, Grading Biden’s Progress Toward a More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy," Just Security, April 28, 2021.
- Annie Shiel, Seth Binder, Jeff Abramson, William Hartung, Rachel Stohl, Diana Ohlbaum, Adam Isacson, Brittany Benowitz and Dan Mahanty, "Toward A More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy: Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration," Just Security, January 19, 2021
- Rachel Stohl, "Improving U.S. Conventional Arms Policies," Arms Control Today, January/February 2021.
Government
- "Remarks to the Defense Trade Advisory Group," November 4, 2021
- Trump policy: "National Security Presidential Memorandum Regarding U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy," White House, April 19, 2018. (National Security Presidential Memorandum 10/NSPM-10)
- Obama policy: "Presidential Policy Directive -- United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy," White House, January 15, 2014. (Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-27)
- Clinton policy: "FACT SHEET Conventional Arms Transfer Policy," February 17, 1995. (Presidential Decision Directive 34/PDD-34)
- Reagan policy: "Announcement Concerning a Presidential Directive on United States Conventional Arms Transfer Policy," July 9, 1981.
- Carter policy: "Conventional Arms Transfer Policy Statement by the President," May 19, 1977. (Presidential Directive 13)
Media
- "Biden plans shift in arms policy to add weight to human rights concerns," Mike Stone and Patricia Zengerle, Reuters, August 4, 2021.