The United States, China, and invasive species: present status and future prospects

The exploding increase in trade between the United States and China, which share comparable ecosystem types, will result in unwanted establishment of alien invasive species that will inflict considerable ecological and economic damage. This undesirable result can be avoided by marshaling management tools and policy instruments that are readily available. High-level policy action is necessary to put the proper and available safeguards in place, and quickly.