"Authorizing such trade would create a legal market for the tiger farms that already exist in China, but more importantly, would provide a cover for poached tiger products to enter the market," Willins told legislators.

The United States also plans to take a hard line on harvest of African elephant tusks and on Japan's proposal that CITES encourage a foreshortening of International Whaling Commission management, he said.

Another US concern is removal of the bobcat from the CITES protection lists, arguing that time and money spent complying with CITES could be better used to help species that need it.

"The bobcat is the most widely distributed native cat in North America," Willins said, noting that a million could be found in the United States alone.

The bobcat was listed 30 years ago to help enforcement because of its similar appearance to other lynxes, he said.

"Skins are almost always auctioned as dry skins with fur out and usually complete, including a bobcat's distinguishing features on the ears and tail," he said.

"Bobcats should not present a look-alike problem to CITES parties," he told the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species was signed in Washington in 1975 and has 171 member nations who enforce CITES restrictions on trade in flora and fauna.

The program is administered through a secretariat at the UN Environment Program in Switzerland.

Representatives will meet in The Hague for the 14th Conference of the Parties in June to allow countries to amend rules aimed at defining and protecting endangered species.

Some 530 animal and 300 plant species enjoy complete bans on trade under CITES, while trade of another 4,460 animal and 28,000 plants is restricted.

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