FWS Announces Resumption of Trade in CITES-Listed Wildlife With Mexico

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced April 14 it will allow normal trade operations to resume with Mexico in species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in line with a withdrawal of the trade suspension by CITES the previous day. “The CITES trade suspension with Mexico is withdrawn,” the FWS said. “The United States will resume normal trade operations with Mexico related to CITES species, effective immediately.”

The FWS had blocked trade in CITES-listed species under Mexican permits after CITES found Mexico had failed to develop an acceptable plan to protect the vaquita porpoise (see 2303290054). A revised plan subsequently submitted by Mexico “includes all the essential elements required and assessed the plan to be adequate,” CITES said.