In this photo released by the Iraqi Army taken on March 20, 2014, Iraqi Security forces deploy after clashes with militants in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, Iraq.
Photo Credit: Iraqi Army /AP/CP

Backdoor to U.S. allows Canada’s military industry to avoid laws on exports to Iraq

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Canada’s military industry, which normally would be subject to Canada’s laws on exports to such countries as Iraq, has a backdoor loophole to avoiding those laws through sales to the United States, according to the non-governmental organization Project Ploughshares.

The latest such sale came to the attention of the organization through a U.S. industry publication. It involves turboprop aircraft designed to be used for “light attack” against rebels on the ground.

In the United States the Congress has to be informed of such sales to other countries. And in addition, any U.S. military equipment sold to Canada that would go to another country would first have to receive authorization from the U.S. State Department. The same is not true in Canada.

Project Ploughshares, which is supported by the Canadian Council of Churches, wants Canada to control such sales and to sign the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to tighten up control over Canadian military exports.

RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Project Ploughshares Senior Program Officer Kenneth Epps about this latest sale and concerns about where Canadian military equipment is ending up.

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More information:
Project Ploughshares Blog/Kenneth Epps – Ottawa approval bypassed in proposed Canadian arms exports to Iraq – here
United Nations – Arms Trade Treaty – here
Project Ploughshares – ATT ratifications climb with no help from Canada – here

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Categories: Economy, International, Politics, Society
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