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Environmental groups are worried that a new trade deal between the U.S. and 12 Pacific countries could disregard a long sought-after ban on shark finning. The leaked draft of the deal does not include any binding terms to ban finning.

The negotiations, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), are set to come to an end in April and are a major part of President Obama’s plan to engage with Asia. Environmental groups are worried, however, that the U.S. is giving in on environmental issues in order to push the deal through.

Environmentalists were hopeful of a shark fin ban after attendees of last year’s Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) meeting agreed to more protection of certain species, but the leaked draft of the deal has left many concerned.

The Office of the US Trade Representative has cautioned that negotiations are still ongoing and that the draft is not necessarily indicative of what the final deal will look like on environmental issues.

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