[sp332]

Confidential negotiations are good for the negotiators, because they can make bluffs and propose compromises without the public breathing down their necks, or second guessing every move. As long as the final text is public before it's put to Congress, I'm fine with that in general.

My problem with the TPP is that it pretends to be a trade agreement but is really targeted at expanding intellectual property laws. The nature of what's being negotiated is being hidden behind the excuse of confidentiality.

[Zigurd]

You are being too generous. "The public breathing down their necks" doesn't happen when the treaty is over palm oil or sisal, even if there is some economic impact on the public.

[lukeschlather]

I think you underestimate how worked up people can get over palm oil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV1t-MvnCrA

(And never mind the specifics, if palm oil or sisal is your livelihood, you're absolutely going to be breathing down the politicians' necks...)

[corresation]

The public is easily swayed by any industry that feels slighted. While the public might not directly react to the language of a treaty, after a concerted ad campaign featuring actors portraying sad, job-at-risk employees, scary music and dystopian scenarios, etc, they start breathing on said necks.

[mmagin]

The bothersome thing about these secret treaty negotiations is that they are something of an end-run around the democratic process in effected countries. In many cases, having signed on to some agreement relating to an organization like this in the past, member countries are often under some obligation to enact legislation conforming to future trade agreements these organizations write up.

[rtpg]

In Japan, for example, the trade parts of TPP are very very important.

This is a big treaty, just saying it's about Mickey Mouse simplifies the facts.