Washington (EFE).- The president of the United States, Joe Biden, urged Mexico on Monday to intensify efforts to conserve the vaquita and totoaba, two endangered species, and threatened possible trade sanctions if they did not there are results within a year.
In a letter addressed to Congress, Biden explained that he has ordered various federal agencies to hold a high-level meeting with the Mexican government to “address the steps to follow to reduce the illegal trade in totoaba and ensure the conservation of the vaquita.”
At that meeting, Washington will urge Mexico to “strengthen implementation” of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and will establish a calendar to review progress in the protection of both species.
Biden announces support for conservation
Biden also instructed his government to support Mexico in combating the trafficking of these species and to train the Mexican authorities if they request it.
The United States Department of the Interior already expressed its concern last May about “totoaba trafficking and the inadequate conservation” of this species.
In the letter, Biden explained that at the moment no trade sanctions will be imposed on Mexico for this issue, but he has instructed his Executive to present a report on the situation to him in July 2024 to decide what retaliation to take.
“The report will be used as a basis for assessing whether additional measures are necessary, including potential trade restrictions,” the president stated.
Biden acknowledged that the Mexican government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador has taken some actions, but opined that “it has to do more” to protect both species or else “the totoaba population will continue to decline and the vaquita will soon become extinct.”
The United States already gave a first alert to Mexico last February, considering that the Latin American country was violating the environmental chapter of the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (T-MEC).
The actions of Mexico
The Mexican Executive launched a campaign last week to disseminate actions to prevent illegal fishing and trade in totoaba and protect the vaquita.
Both the totoaba and the vaquita are endangered species that live in the Gulf of California, in a marine area between Mexico and the United States.
The Sea Shepherd organization, which works for the preservation of these species in collaboration with the governments of both countries, recorded at the beginning of last June the existence of between 10 and 13 specimens of vaquita porpoise.