TACD recently joined seven other civil society organizations in signing a memorandum to the U.S. Trade Representative offering recommendations on how to improve transparency in international negotiations.The eight organizations signing the letter were:
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Essential Action
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
Public Knowledge
Salud y Fãrmacos
Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD)
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM)
U.S. PIRG
The memorandum lists specific suggestions for increased transparency, including documentary transparency, civil society participation, public consultations, public representation in advisory bodies, and publication of meeting dates/times, among others. Of particular (but not exclusive) concern are the ongoing ACTA negotiations, which are currently being conducted in secret.
The three attached appendices examine comparative transparency in a range of international norm-setting fora.
The letter and attachments (1, 2, 3) are online, and have been reported on by the National Journal. You can also find the press release here.