China Suspends Imports of CITES Species from Congo, Laos

China has suspended imports of CITES-listed timber species African teak and Thailand rosewood from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Laos, according to GlobalWood.org.

The directive came from the country’s National Endangered Species Office, which left open the possibility that the restriction might be lifted in the future.

The suspension follows the CITES Secretariat’s recommendation for all signatory countries to cease trade from the DRC and Laos because they failed to submit a National Ivory Action Plan, according to GlobalWood.org.