[classified]

(Mr. Norris and the overseas shippers who had packaged the flowers had failed to properly navigate the many, often irrational, paperwork requirements the U.S. imposed when it implemented an arcane international treaty’s new restrictions on trade in flowers and other flora.)

Now if I understand this correctly, in order to ship orchids from another country, one has to file paperwork equivalent to unbelievable amounts of red tape with restrictions, but yet they were able to do so without filing for this unbelievable amount of restrictions and red tape, because they didn't know about them?

Whoa! Someone dropped the ball bigtime on this business venture....

[HiTech RedNeck]

Let all with international businesses be warned: the Federales play like thugs for very little reason.

I believe I heard of this or a similar incident a few months back, but it sounded then as though the problem had to do with sending the flowers to other countries rather than with obtaining them. If the Norrises had had the flowers drop shipped from a foreign wholesaler that would be still another ball of wax. I don’t know why this didn’t result in a mere probation, unless it’s the Bush philosophy (stomp on your friends).

[justa-hairyape]

Now if I understand this correctly, in order to ship orchids from another country, one has to file paperwork equivalent to unbelievable amounts of red tape with restrictions, but yet they were able to do so without filing for this unbelievable amount of restrictions and red tape, because they didn't know about them?

All it takes is for the exporter to make one mistake on his export paperwork and then you the importer are liable. No mistake of your own. Still liable for thousands and jail time. That is why I do not import or export. Letting a bunch of government knuckle draggers getting involved with business can only lead to trouble.

[the_daug]

Maybe bureaucrats don’t give correct information.