Taiwan Decries U.S. Animal Exports Ban
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The government said Tuesday that the U.S. ban on its wildlife product exports is selective and unjust, and it claimed that its efforts on wildlife conservation have been far greater than those of other Asian countries.
“This (U.S. ban) is a selective action. It is different from what we know as fairness and justice. The United States completely ignored all our efforts on environmental and wildlife conservation in the past,” Prime Minister Lien Chan told Parliament.
President Clinton said Monday that the United States will ban imports of certain wildlife products from Taiwan because of the island’s continued trade in endangered tigers and rhinoceroses.
Taiwanese officials estimate the ban will cost the island up to $10 million a year. According to U.S. estimates, annual imports of Taiwanese wildlife products total $25 million.
Products affected could include coral and mollusk shell products and jewelry; snake, lizard and crocodile skin shoes, and other leather products.
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