Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to urge (a) Thailand, (b) Vietnam, (c) Japan, (d) Laos, (e) Myanmar and (f) other countries in Asia to ban the trade in ivory.

The former Foreign Secretary set out his ambition to make 2018 the year of UK leadership in defeating the illegal ivory trade. On 2 July the then Foreign Secretary announced that the Government would launch the Ivory Alliance 2024, which will work with partners globally to increase the number of countries committed to domestic ivory bans and for tougher enforcement against those caught breaking the law.

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a high priority for the Ministerial team, with an ongoing campaign that has included personal engagement with Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Laos and Myanmar. The former Foreign Secretary raised ivory with Thai Foreign Minister Don in June. He visited Thailand in February where he discussed IWT with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. He raised ivory with the Foreign Minister of Japan in May and also in 2017. I have raised IWT on my own visits to Asia this year, including with counterparts in Thailand and Vietnam.

FCO officials continue to work closely with host governments across Asia on IWT.