There is doubt, therefore, whether customs arrangements in these countries would be adequate to control the illegal traffic in ivory. The United States and Japan were the major consumer countries until the ban. Apparently both governments sympathise with the position of the Southern African states. Even if this is true, it is doubtful whether the two governments would be willing openly to support lifting the ban. For one thing, the price of ivory products in the West has apparently decreased precipitously in recent years due to changing values.
Western countries have no domestic reason, therefore, to resume the importation of ivory.
In fact, they are under pressure from animal rights groups to maintain the ban. The price for taking on animal rights groups can be very high, because of these groups' influence on public opinion. Western governments thus tend to be wary of them. Japan especially has been fighting a bruising battle since 1982, without much success, to have the moratorium on whaling lifted. Its principal opponents have been the same Western animal rights groups that are ardent supporters of the ivory trade ban.