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While this story might be sensational, does anybody know the rationale behind keeping treaties like this secret. I could come up with all kinds of explanations

While this story might be sensational, does anybody know the rationale behind keeping treaties like this secret. I could come up with all kinds of explanations like our leader being fearful of criticism, but I would like to know if there an actual practical reason.

maisutton 13y ago
Author of this blog post here. They claim that they need to keep it secret to maintain a strategic advantage as each of the countries trade off different provisions that could benefit or harm their economies. US Trade Rep says that if they make the draft texts public, then it will somehow effect their "game plan" against other nations. This justification has become ever more dubious (or at the very least, extremely hypocritical) given the fact that the NSA has been spying on trade delegates and shares that information with the US Trade Rep. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/world/no-morsel-too-minuscule-for-all-consuming-nsa.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/world/no-morsel-too-minusc...)
snowwrestler 13y ago
Treaties start off with private negotiations for the same reason that any negotiation is private--so that the representatives can work on ideas and compromises in a free way. If they are able to arrive at a good deal, then they can present it together. This is how corporate mergers are done, for example. Managers meet to work out the deal, then present it to shareholders. It's also how all significant legislation gets started--Congressional staff meet to negotiate, then a bill gets introduced with cosponsors. The main thing to understand is that this is the beginning of a process, not the entire process. There will be plenty of opportunity for public comment. The Korea FTA, for example, spent over 3 years in public comment after negotiations concluded.
anigbrowl 13y ago
Same as lots of other negotiations; the more people at the table, the longer it takes to get anything done.

maisutton 13y ago

Author of this blog post here. They claim that they need to keep it secret to maintain a strategic advantage as each of the countries trade off different provisions that could benefit or harm their economies. US Trade Rep says that if they make the draft texts public, then it will somehow effect their "game plan" against other nations. This justification has become ever more dubious (or at the very least, extremely hypocritical) given the fact that the NSA has been spying on trade delegates and shares that information with the US Trade Rep. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/world/no-morsel-too-minuscule-for-all-consuming-nsa.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/world/no-morsel-too-minusc...)

snowwrestler 13y ago

Treaties start off with private negotiations for the same reason that any negotiation is private--so that the representatives can work on ideas and compromises in a free way. If they are able to arrive at a good deal, then they can present it together. This is how corporate mergers are done, for example. Managers meet to work out the deal, then present it to shareholders. It's also how all significant legislation gets started--Congressional staff meet to negotiate, then a bill gets introduced with cosponsors. The main thing to understand is that this is the beginning of a process, not the entire process. There will be plenty of opportunity for public comment. The Korea FTA, for example, spent over 3 years in public comment after negotiations concluded.

anigbrowl 13y ago

Same as lots of other negotiations; the more people at the table, the longer it takes to get anything done.