In 2001, GWB's trade negotiator released the FIRST draft of the FTAA for public comment.

[Luminous Animal]

When doing so, he stated that the release was, "an unprecedented effort to make international trade and its economic and social benefits more understandable to the public."

Citizen groups opposed to the FTAA have been clamoring for the full negotiating texts for months. They stepped up their demands in June, after the FTAA's draft chapter on investment was leaked and published by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

"We'd been expecting this since the governments made their commitment in Quebec," said Kristin Dawkins, vice president for international programmes at the non-governmental institute.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=65

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. So because a republican did it, the (President) Obama should, too ...

Oh wait ... that would be agreeing with a republican, which DU knows, that can't be done.

[Luminous Animal]

2. I've been told that releases of draft negotiations has never been done.

The second draft was also released in 2002.

[GoneFishin]

3. And we have been told that the secret way that TPP is being negotiated is SOP.

[okaawhatever]

5. The press release called it "unprecedented' and since then it hasn't happened. That pretty

much verifies that the current situation is SOP.

[Luminous Animal]

8. Indeed. Obama superseded from being the most transparent president EVER by the worst

president ever.

[joshcryer]

10. Um, that doesn't follow at all.

Bush was transparent on a one time deal in early 2001 after having just stolen the Presidency. It's almost like he wanted it to fail.

He was by no means transparent at all in his tenure.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/03/16/has-obama-delivered-the-most-transparent-administration-in-history/

Geez, it's like people search for gimmies here. Anything to shit on Obama.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Quebec and Miami both had very large protests around the FTAA

Probably made a bit of a difference.

[okaawhatever]

6. And it never passed. Apparently getting a bunch of different countries to agree on things isn't

easy.

[Luminous Animal]

7. It didn't happen because TRANSPARENCY allowed the citizenry to rise up and say

no fucking way.

Yes, indeed. It is difficult to get countries to agree when their "leaders" are at odds to those they purport to represent.

Because, in regards to the FTAA, the leaders of the countries did agree and fashioned a final agreement. An failed largely through citizen engagement.

When the powers that be reveal themselves, we know we are being screwed and we, the citizenry, will rise up.

[joshcryer]

9. So you're saying the citizens won't this time?

No wonder they're keeping it private. Obama wants to get things done, for better or worse.