Rep Speier: Tech knows more about trade deal than Congress does

The technology industry knows more about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal that many members of Congress, Rep Jackie Speier (D-CA) said. Rep Speier, who opposes President Barack Obama's plan to fast-track the deal through Congress, has lamented the secrecy surrounding the draft text of the trade agreement. "This process has been going on for a long time without our benefit. I was sitting in a meeting with tech execs from the valley who knew more about the TPP than I did," she said. "Because they're the ones drafting it.""I think we've got to go back to you know a Democratic process to forge a deal that will provide for TPP and the kind of transparency that we expect," she added. The Senate passed the fast track trade promotion authority in May but it faces opposition from most Democratic Representatives and some Republican Representatives in the House.