Japan under pressure after China bans ivory trade

January 17, 2018

Beijing/Tokyo- Japan is under growing pressure to address illegal ivory exports from the country, after China, once the world's largest ivory market, declared a total ban on domestic ivory trade late last year.

The Chinese government made the decision in response to international criticism. Now in the country, ivory is not available in legitimate jewelry stores or on shopping websites.

In Beijing this month, a Jiji Press reporter saw a sign saying that ivory was available, at the entrance of a large building that houses many jewelry stores.

But actually sold inside the building were mammoth tusks purportedly imported from Russia. Trade in the extinct animal's tusks is not prohibited. A store clerk there said that it is impossible for legitimate stores to sell ivory now.

Still, ivory remains a symbol of wealth in China, still attracting demand. Ivory prices in the black market in the country are expected to continue rising, a Chinese jewelry industry source said.

An environmental expert said that genuine ivory could be sold as mammoth tusks, including through online channels.

International trade in ivory is banned in 1990 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. In Africa, however, more than 20,000 elephants are believed to be poached every year for ivory.

Not all ivory illegally traded in China is supplied by poachers. Japan is also viewed as an ivory supplier to the neighboring country's black market.

In Japan, a lot of ivory products imported before the ban on international trade took effect are legally traded. Chinese brokers buy those products in Japan for sale in China.

According to environmental activist group WWF Japan, 2.4 tons of ivory illegally exported from Japan was seized overseas between 2011 and 2016. Of the total amount, 95 pct was bound for China.

WWF Japan submitted written demands to the Japanese government this month, urging it to strengthen measures to prevent illegal ivory exports from the country.

"We know people in the world are looking at our country with stern eyes," Environment Minister Masaharu Nakagawa told a press conference on Friday following the action by WWF Japan.

"We have a public-private council on the promotion of appropriate ivory trade, and based on discussions by the council, we'll make necessary efforts," Nakagawa said. Jiji Press