The rules for international travel and trade with musical instruments that contain natural materials protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are being reconsidered in November 2025. The League will attend as the 185 global parties to the CITES treaty meet at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to consider new policy proposals for worldwide implementation. Brazil has introduced a proposal to list Pernambuco at the highest level of protection under CITES, which would require extremely burdensome permit requirements for international travel with bows in use by many musicians, and place very tight restrictions on international sales in existing and new bows.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently inviting public comments to inform the U.S. position. In addition to the comments that will be filed by the League in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians other national organizations, individual orchestras and musicians can write to request U.S. support for a policy solution that will avoid applying a CITES permit requirement every time a musician with a bow travels internationally, while maintaining protects for sustaining trees.

To file comments, stakeholders within the U.S. can go to this Federal Register page and share your thoughts by September 17, 2025. Find essential background in the League’s Pernambuco Policy resource page.