answer:First, I don’t really fully get your question. Embargos on nations that promote or tacitly support poaching would seem to restrict the supply, not the demand. The problem with an embargo is that they are usually by one (or sometimes a few) countries vs. one country. All you need is one country near the embargoed one for the plan to fall apart. Like this: 1. Country X is a ruthless dictatorship. They actively support poaching of elephants for ivory. 2. US, Germany, and France places an embargo vs. Country X. 3. Country X can just sneak the stuff to nearby Country Y either through the black market or through conventional means (as Y has not embargoed X). 4. Country Y will then resell the ivory around the world (perhaps including US, Germany, and France.) Another possibility would be someone going to Country X and smuggling the ivory out.