The Vietnamese and U.S. governments launched a new U.S.-Vietnam Partnership to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (the Partnership) during U.S. President Obama’s historic visit to Vietnam on June 23-25.

The two countries recognized that the illegal trade in and illegal consumption of wildlife and wildlife products are threatening the world’s irreplaceable biodiversity and adversely impacting communities and economies around the globe. Both countries acknowledged that wildlife trafficking is a transnational criminal enterprise that generates billions of dollars of illicit revenue annually, threatens national security, undermines the rule of law, and facilitates the spread of emerging infectious diseases. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the United States and Vietnam have decided to form a new Partnership to frame and advance joint activities to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.

Under this Partnership, Vietnam and the United States are committed to strengthening their respective and collective efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and to improving collaboration in four strategic areas: reduce consumer demand for and consumption of illegal wildlife and wildlife products; strengthen wildlife law enforcement and prosecution; improve and implement the legal frameworks for wildlife crime; and bolster international cooperation. USAID/Vietnam co-led development of the partnership and a new USAID program will be the core USG assistance contribution under the partnership.

For the full announcement, visit: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/05/257652.htm