How Not To Build A 21st Century Trade Agreement: In Secret

from the government-failures dept

The USTR continues to pitch the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement as a "21st Century" trade agreement . However, as the folks at EFF point out, the defining aspect of the 21st century is the fact that the internet has enabled unrivaled transparency . A trade agreement created in secret -- though with special access for special interests -- is not a 21st-century agreement at all. It's the opposite. It's a last-century viewpoint on how the world works.It's still never been adequately explainedthe USTR feels the need for such secrecy and backroom deals. At best, the answer has been "this is how we always negotiate trade agreements.". If the USTR is serious about building a trade agreement for the 21st century, it would recognize that it needs to be open and transparent.

Filed Under: tpp, transparency, ustr

Companies: eff