African Ivory Trade

Photo: A female African Bush Elephant in Mikumi 
National Park, Tanzania. Wikimedia Commons

Kenya and its allies now disagree with Tanzania on the ivory trade, with Kenya leading the African countries seeking a permanent ban on the trade. The Doha Round of global trade negotiations will determine whether Tanzania will have a market for the stockpile of 12,131 ivory elephant tusks it has accumulated. The current estimated value of the Tanzanian ivory reserve is $12 million in Asian markets, according to an allafrica.com report. With Kenya and its allies seeking a permanent ban on the ivory trade, the decision at the next Doha will determine the value of Tanzania's ivory reserves.

The Doha Round of negotiations, launched in 2001, were initially scheduled to conclude by January 1, 2005. Tariff and subsidy disputes amoung the G-7 nations and the European Union (EU) created substantial delays in the global proceedings, especially on agricultural issues. No date is currently set for 2010 Doha talks to resume, but it is anticipated that a conclusion to the Doha Round of negotiations will occur this year.

The African trade in ivory elephant tusks has been around for centuries.

Men with ivory tusks from the African Elephant, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, circa. 1880-1923. Wikimedia Commons.

11th-century elephant tusk, Italy, Musée du Louvre.
Wikimedia Commons.

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