Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna

Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Flora And Fauna

Summary of Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Flora And Fauna

Known commonly by the acronym CITES, a multilateral agreement to suppress international trade in endangered species of wildlife and plants. The convention was signed at Washington in 1973; in 1984, sixty-nine nations were signatories. Adherents to the convention pledge to interdict the exportation or importation of species listed in the agreement, with limited exceptions. Endangered species are categorized into three appendixes: (1) species that are in grave danger of extinction (these are banned from all commercial trade); (2) species that are threatened but are not in danger of imminent extinction (trade in these species is permitted if licensed by the country of exportation); and (3) species that are not threatened globally but may be threatened on a local or regional scale (a signatory state may place a locally threatened species on the protected list, thereby invoking the aid of other governments in prohibiting unlicensed trade in that species).

Any adhering state is empowered to claim for itself a reservation, or exemption, from control for any species, irrespective of how threatened that species may be.

In the United States enforcement of the convention is entrusted to the U.S. Customs Service in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior.

(Main Author: William J. Miller)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CUES) and the GATT Policy Negotiations

In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CUES): A multilateral agreement signed in 1973 to suppress international trade in endangered species of wildlife and plants. Signatories committed themselves to interdict exports or imports of species listed in the agreement, with limited exceptions.


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