On December 6, 2006, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution by a vote of 153 to 1 to let work begin on a new treaty that would set global standards for small arms deals and prevent potential human rights abuses. The United States cast the sole 'No' vote. The Bush administration has close ties with the gun lobby, which has strongly opposed all U.N. efforts to curb the illegal international trade in small arms.  24 other nations abstained during the vote, including major arms exporters like China, Russia and Pakistan. The resolution asks the U.N. Secretary General to seek the views of Member States "on the feasibility, scope, and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms" and to submit a report during the next General Assembly session.  The vote comes on the heels of the disappointing conclusion to the 2006 U.N. Small Arms Review Conference, which produced no final agreement, largely due to the opposition of the United States' delegation.