But some admit the organisation and its members are paying the price for acting with unnecessary secrecy. The system is already fraying at the edges, partly under pressure from its own members. WTO chief Renato Ruggiero says that unless disclosure rules are reformed, the organisation's credibility will be undermined. A US-led debate is under way on opening the doors wider. The WTO has equipped its new council chamber with a public gallery and invited representatives of more than 150 NGOs to its ministerial meeting next month.
Some diplomats favour making disputes panel hearings public.
However, it is uncertain whether such moves will be enough to satisfy the critics. Most officials admit they are in a dilemma over how to deal with the NGOs' demands, and how to assess their political strength. One problem is deciding which organisations to listen to, and whom they represent. Governments agree that many such groups hold views that reflect a broad swathe of public opinion. But they also believe much pressure is exercised by fringe movements that espouse extreme positions, with little public support.