DeLauro, House Dems Call For Transparency Throughout NAFTA Renegotiation

August 16, 2017
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC (August 16, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today joined 51 of her House Democratic colleagues on a letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer calling for transparency as the first round of NAFTA renegotiations begins in Washington.

"Transparency and consultation with Congress are critical to establishing support for U.S. trade policies. Yet the Administration has still not publicly stated its views on a range of issues and, to our knowledge, has not appointed a Chief Transparency Officer at USTR, as required by statute," the Representatives wrote. "With the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation set to begin this month, the urgency to determine the Administration's stance has only grown. The NAFTA renegotiation will not be successful if the Administration does not consult meaningfully with Congress in an open and transparent process. We call on the Administration, in consultation with Congress, to develop and implement such a process immediately."

The letter calls on the Administration to develop high standard transparency policies regarding:

  • Access to negotiating texts for Congressional staff;
  • Access to negotiating texts for members of the trade advisory committees;
  • Access to particular types of negotiating texts (including labor action plans);
  • Access to the final text of an agreement;
  • Access to U.S. negotiating proposals; and
  • The role of the Chief Transparency Officer within USTR.

"Moving forward, we look forward to working with you and your staff to ensure that Members of Congress, their staff, advisory committee members, and the public are provided with the most meaningful access possible to negotiating documents," the Representatives continued. "As the legitimacy of trade negotiations has come under more intense scrutiny in the United States and across the world, we believe that it is in all parties' interest to ensure that consultations and transparency provisions are as robust as possible."

The full letter is available here.