{
  "id": "R43700",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R43700",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 445749,
      "date": "2015-09-22",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:20:27.045517",
      "title": "Restrictions on Trade in Elephant Ivory",
      "summary": "For decades, illegal trade in elephant ivory has threatened the viability of wild populations of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). To reduce the United States\u2019 contribution to the demand for illegal elephant ivory, President Obama announced in February 2014 that his Administration would \u201cstrengthen enforcement\u201d of U.S. laws governing the trade as part of his National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking. Shortly thereafter, the Department of the Interior\u2019s (DOI\u2019s) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) took administrative actions designed to restrict trade in elephant ivory further while allowing some trade that the agency does not believe would undermine elephant conservation efforts.\nAt the federal level, two statutes, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the African Elephant Conservation Act (AECA), and an international treaty, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), potentially restrict the trade, possession, and use of elephant ivory by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction. In addition to the statutes that regulate trade in ivory, FWS has promulgated or issued rules, orders, and policies that generally dictate what persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction can do with elephant ivory. In July 2015, FWS proposed certain revisions to its ESA Section 4(d) rule on African elephants that would further restrict trade in African elephant ivory.\nThis report briefly discusses the federal statutes and the treaty that govern international and domestic trade in elephant ivory by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction. It then provides an overview of the President\u2019s strategic plan to combat wildlife trafficking, as well as related administrative actions by FWS. It examines the restrictions on trade in Asian and African elephant ivory contained in federal laws, as well as FWS regulations and policies. It also explains potential exceptions to these restrictions, including exceptions for antiques, certain musical instruments, and ivory that is part of a household move. The report concludes with a brief overview of legislation introduced in the 114th Congress and FWS\u2019s proposed revisions to its special rule addressing African elephant ivory trade.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4412,
          "name": "International Environmental Law"
        },
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4425,
          "name": "Sustainability Law and Policy"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811758/",
      "id": "R43700_2014Aug28",
      "date": "2014-08-28",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Restrictions on Trade in Elephant Ivory",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
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  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs"
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}