A Stick to Save the Tigers

In the vast arena of international commerce, the action will seem piddling, perhaps involving no more than $25 million in trade. But environmentalists will see it as a watershed event in the history of conservation. The White House is expected to announce this week that the U.S. will impose sanctions on Taiwan for failing to control its trade in tiger bones and rhinoceros horns. It will be the first time the U.S. has imposed trade sanctions to protect endangered species since Congress passed legislation in 1978 authorizing such penalties.

Administration sources say President Clinton will determine the scope of the sanctions after reviewing recommendations from an interagency committee. The most likely action is a ban on imports of Taiwan's wildlife products, including snakeskin shoes and lizard handbags. The value of such imports runs about $25 million a year -- a tiny part of America's $25 billion annual trade with Taiwan. But if the sanctions do not spur the country to curb its illicit dealing in endangered species, the trade restrictions could be broadened. And environmentalists will consider any penalties a major victory. Last summer the Administration declared that Norway had violated U.S. law by hunting minke whales, but then failed to follow through with sanctions.

In November, Clinton warned both Taiwan and China to do something about their trade in tiger and rhino parts, and gave them a March deadline. In response, the two countries announced crackdowns on their markets, but wildlife experts were unimpressed. The White House decided to give China the / benefit of the doubt on the tiger issue, perhaps because some in the Administration believe the prospect of increased trade may persuade the Chinese to show more respect for human rights.

But such diplomatic concerns will apparently not save Taiwan from sanctions. The issue now is whether U.S. policy will have enough teeth to help save the tiger.