    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [November 8, 1993]
    [Pages 1931-1932]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Rhinoceros and Tiger Trade by China and
    Taiwan
    November 8, 1993

    To the Congress of the United States:

        On September 7, 1993, the Secretary of the Interior certified that
    the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan are engaging in trade of
    rhinoceros and tiger parts and products that diminishes the
    effectiveness of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
    Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Five rhinoceros species and the
    tiger are listed in Appendix I of CITES, which means that the species
    are threatened with extinction and no trade for primarily commercial
    purposes is allowed. Although recent actions by the PRC and Taiwan show
    that some progress has been made in addressing their rhinoceros and
    tiger trade, the record demonstrates that they still fall short of the
    international conservation standards of CITES. This letter constitutes
    my report to the Congress pursuant to section 8(b) of the Fisherman's
    Protective Act of 1967, as amended (Pelly Amendment) (22 U.S.C.
    1978(b)).

        The population of the world's rhinoceros has declined 90 percent
    within the last 23 years to the present level of less than 10,000
    animals, and the tiger population has declined 95 percent within this
    century to the present level of about 5,000. Neither the PRC nor Taiwan
    has fully implemented the international standards established by CITES
    for controlling the trade in these species, and the poaching of
    rhinoceroses and tigers continues in their native ranges fueled in part
    by the market demand in the PRC and Taiwan. These populations will
    likely be extinct in the next 2 to 5 years if the trade in their parts
    and products is not eliminated.

        To protect the rhinoceros and tiger from ex-

    [[Page 1932]]

    tinction, all countries and entities that currently consume their parts
    and products must implement adequate legislative measures and provide
    for enforcement that effectively eliminates the trade, including taking
    actions to comply with the criteria set down by CITES in September 1993
    and fully cooperating with all CITES delegations. The PRC and Taiwan
    have made good faith efforts to stop the trade in rhinoceros and tiger
    parts and products, and have, since the announcement of Pelly
    certification, undertaken some positive legislative and administrative
    steps in this regard. These efforts, however, have yet to yield
    effective reductions in trade.

        I wish to support and build on these good faith efforts undertaken
    by the PRC and Taiwan. At the same time, I would like to make clear the
    U.S. position that only effective reductions in the destructive trade in
    these species will prevent the rhinoceros and tiger from becoming
    extinct. Accordingly, I have established an Interagency Task Force to
    coordinate the provision of U.S. technical assistance to the PRC and
    Taiwan to help them eliminate their illegal wildlife trade. I have also
    instructed the Department of the Interior, in coordination with the
    Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan, to enter
    immediately into dialogue with the PRC and Taiwan regarding specific
    U.S. offers of trade and law enforcement assistance.

        Actions by the PRC and Taiwan that would demonstrate their
    commitment to the elimination of trade in rhinoceros and tiger parts and
    products could include: at a minimum, consolidation and control of
    stockpiles; formation of a permanent wildlife or conservation law
    enforcement unit with specialized training; development and
    implementation of a comprehensive law enforcement and education action
    plan; increased enforcement penalties; prompt termination of amnesty
    periods for illegal holding and commercialization; and establishment of
    regional law enforcement arrangements. I would expect that in taking
    these actions, the PRC and Taiwan would take account of the
    recommendations by the CITES Standing Committee and other CITES
    subsidiary bodies. In that regard, I am pleased to announce that the
    United States will participate in a delegation to the PRC and Taiwan
    organized by CITES to evaluate their progress between now and the March
    1994 CITES Standing Committee meeting.

        At its last meeting, the CITES Standing Committee unanimously
    recommended that parties consider implementing ``stricter domestic
    measures up to and including prohibition in trade in wildlife species
    now'' against the PRC and Taiwan for their trade in rhinoceros and tiger
    parts and products. The United States is prepared, through close
    dialogue and technical aid, to assist the PRC and Taiwan. I hope that
    both will demonstrate measurable, verifiable, and substantial progress
    by March 1994. Otherwise, import prohibitions will be necessary, as
    recommended by the CITES Standing Committee.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    November 8, 1993.