Each of these agreements will likely lead to the creation of new and powerful international institutions that will have great influence on the behavior of local, state and federal governments. We believe that this narrow agenda for transparency in trade runs counter to our goals as a democratic nation. We urge Congress to insist that the Administration produce trade agreements that ensure all trade institutions operate in an open and democratic fashion. Preferential access to trade institutions for big corporations capable of maintaining lobbying offices in Geneva or Paris is contrary to the interests of ordinary citizens and small businesses whose lives are affected by the decisions made by these bureaucrats. Preferential access to FTAA negotiations afforded to big business is not fair.
Citizens have a right to know that a particular rule is under consideration.
They have a right to know what the U.S. government is doing to protect legitimate environmental laws from challenge by trade dispute panels. This is promising, but we have not had sufficient time to fully analyze the implications for public participation of the proposed changes to fast track. We urge the Congress to request from the Administration a narrative explaining how these proposed changes will affect public access and accountability. Trade patterns have environmental consequences and trade rules can affect environmental policies. The question is no longer whether US trade policy should recognize these linkages, but how to respond to them.