USTR So Transparent It Takes Three Months To Reveal Names Of TPP Chapters
Negotiators had hoped to conclude the big Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement at the last negotiation round, thinking that since the US had finally granted fast track, all the obstacles were moved out of the way. That didn't happen, leading many to wonder if the entire agreement is doomed. However, as EFF recently explained there's still a ton going on behind the scenes (or, rather, behind closed doors). That discussion notes that the USTR has appointed one of its own top lawyers, Tim Reif, to be the USTR's new "chief transparency officer." Of course, giving lawyers new titles and actually being transparent are two very separate things.
The USTR's own posted update on the TPP is full of vague bullshit, rather than details. It comes across as standard "rah rah" propagranda, rather than a recognition that there is widespread disagreement among negotiating countries and widespread concern among the public around the globe about this agreement. It also ignores the fact that negotiators are way behind schedule and that the failure to conclude the agreement in Maui was a huge failure. Instead, the USTR pretends things are going along swimmingly. This either means the USTR actually believes this or it's lying to the public. Oh, and the only mention of "transparency" in the statement is to talk about how the USTR (again, negotiated entirely in secret) is supposed to "increase transparency" in policy making. Seriously:
Again, this is a simple request for the mere chapter headings of an agreement that the USTR is insisting is being put in place to increase transparency, and the USTR can't even respond to that within three months. This is not an organization that understands transparency. It's an organization that only lives by obfuscation and secrecy. That's no way for a democracy to be run.
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The USTR's own posted update on the TPP is full of vague bullshit, rather than details. It comes across as standard "rah rah" propagranda, rather than a recognition that there is widespread disagreement among negotiating countries and widespread concern among the public around the globe about this agreement. It also ignores the fact that negotiators are way behind schedule and that the failure to conclude the agreement in Maui was a huge failure. Instead, the USTR pretends things are going along swimmingly. This either means the USTR actually believes this or it's lying to the public. Oh, and the only mention of "transparency" in the statement is to talk about how the USTR (again, negotiated entirely in secret) is supposed to "increase transparency" in policy making. Seriously:
Through TPP, we are seeking to make trade across the TPP region more seamless, including by improving the coherence of TPP regulatory systems, enhancing transparency in policy-making processes, and combatting corruption. These "good government" reforms also play an important role in ensuring fairness for American workers and small businesses.If the goal is to increase transparency in policymaking, the USTR might as well begin at home. Because back on June 4th, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) reached out to the USTR, via a FOIA request, asking for just the names of the TPP Chapters. Not the contents. Not the negotiating positions. Just the names of the freaking chapters. And it took until September 10th for the USTR to provide those.
Again, this is a simple request for the mere chapter headings of an agreement that the USTR is insisting is being put in place to increase transparency, and the USTR can't even respond to that within three months. This is not an organization that understands transparency. It's an organization that only lives by obfuscation and secrecy. That's no way for a democracy to be run.
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