4 ms·

Here is a nice explanation of the reasons for secrecy: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-trade-agreements-like-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-negotiated-in-secret h

Here is a nice explanation of the reasons for secrecy: https://www.quora.com/Why-are-trade-agreements-like-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-negotiated-in-secret https://www.quora.com/Why-are-trade-agreements-like-the-Tran... tl;dr: two reasons: if each minor step in the negotiations is made public, lobbyists and NGOs will constantly bug the negotiators. Furthermore, if one side publicly states which lines it will never cross in the negotiations, it loses leverage because the opposite side now knows on which points they can expect less resistance, and will use this knowledge as a tactical advantage.

fnj 10y ago
Yeah, due process sure is a drag, isn't it.
- SturgeonsLaw 10y ago
  We wouldn't want to bug those poor negotiators while they whittle away what's left of our democracy
  - yoplait_ 10y ago
    These deals take years to negotiate. It's just a matter of practicality. Democracy can always say no to deals if it wants to (as is happening here).
    - acqq 10y ago
      That the TTIP-like deals take years is not by accident, but by design: the nasty stuff is to be included in one big package and obscured, to be accepted "by the democracy" only because it's a part of the whole "and look, there's some pork there too." Otherwise the smaller deals, which would actually be in the clear interest of both sides would happen much more often. As the user walterbell posted https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12569891 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12569891 : 5-min video on the major trade agreements and ISDS, https://youtube.com/watch?v=M4-mlGRPmkU https://youtube.com/watch?v=M4-mlGRPmkU