Tshewang and Phuntsho had acquired the necessary export permits, and to our delight, the precious 200 or so pounds of samples were whisked away without issue by the local air carrier office.
But documents released this week by the justice department in response to a lawsuit seeking to block the deal showed foreign minister Stéphane Dion signed crucial export permits only last Friday.
"Yes," said Dion. "But the process of the export permits is to look at if the equipment has been properly used.
Canada, too, quietly approved export permits this year for a controversial deal to sell the Saudis around CA$15 billion worth of light armored vehicles.
Asked specifically how the minister justified portraying the contract as a "done deal" that couldn't be cancelled, only to turn around and note that he could have refused to sign the export permits — but signed them anyway — Dion was nonplussed.
All specimens were exported legally under Papua New Guinea export permits [permit numbers 200263 (2000), 020170 (2002), 020480 (2002), and 990333 (2005)] and imported under USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Services APHISS) import permits 42797 (to Robert Fleischer) or 50431 (to John Dumbacher) and declared to US Fish and Wildlife Service using form 3 177.
The administration still could choose to favor the climate when making decisions on drilling in the Arctic Ocean, expanding offshore drilling in ultra-deepwater, coal mining on public lands, permitting coal exports, permitting exports of liquid natural gas.
Steady earnings from oil exports permitted investments in factories, and the devalued currency made Russian goods more competitive on the international market.
The validity of the export permits was in question.
Our samples are all bundled up, and our export permit awaits us on the mainland.
The Kurds say they can dish out export permits, though the authorities in Baghdad disagree.
