Poaching poses the greatest threat to rhinos. Rhino horn is used in China, South Korea, and Taiwan as a fever-reducing agent, in India as an aphrodisiac, and in Yemen for ceremonial dagger handles. Rhinos are also taken for hides, hooves, and other body parts. Rhino hide and urine are used for medicinal purposes. This certification results when a foreign country engages in trade that reduces the effectiveness of an international program designed to protect endangered species.
Certification leads to a U.S. embargo on trade in certain animal products from that country.
These nations are the main consumers of rhino horn. While the committee noted that progress had been made by authorities in consumer countries to improve domestic control and to educate communities as to the risk to rhino populations, concern was expressed regarding the progress made by China and Taiwan. This meeting occurred before recent civil strife in Yemen, and effect of the turmoil on conservation programs is not yet known. In April 1994, the President announced his decision to impose trade sanctions on Taiwan, but not China. Some observers felt his decision to forego trade sanctions against China was based more on a hope of maintaining cooperation on both human rights and on U.S. efforts to persuade North Korea to open its nuclear facilities to international inspection than on Chinese wildlife protection.