Transparency

In the area of Transparency, KEI works on several different topics, including for example:

Norm setting. KEI has advocated access to meeting venues, timely disclosures of negotiating texts, and the use of webcasting of meetings, among other measures. Trade negotiations tend to be particularly non-transparent, particularly in recent years.

Medical technologies. KEI is among those advocating transparency of R&D costs, public sector subsidies for R&D, prices, revenues and units sold in different geographic markets, outlays on certain marketing activities, patent landscapes, know-how to manufacture biologic drugs, outcomes from clinical trials, the text of licensing agreements, and other measures.

Freedom of information laws . KEI is concerned about the increasingly poor compliance with U.S. freedom of information laws.

Background Memo on Transparency Norms

World Health Assembly/WHO, UN General Assembly

KEI has a separate web page on the negotiations in 2019, that lead to the resolution adopted on May 28, 2019:

http://keionline.org/transparency/wha72

Earlier discussions at the WHO on transparency include, but are not limited to:

U.S. Federal Legislation and Regulations

For a list of bills on transparency:

Selected blogs on federal legislation:

U.S. State Legislation

Misc memos on transparency issues

Transparency and Patents

Bayh-Dole rights

Patent landscapes

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Trade Negotiations

Here are a few additional blogs on transparency topics.

2009: Obama trade officials promise thorough review of transparency policies
2009: NGO Letter to USTR on transparency

2009: ACTA is secret. How transparent are other other global norm setting exercises?
2009: Transparency of negotiating documents in selected fora
2009: Participation by the public in selected negotiations

2009: USTR’s February 10 memo on Transparency Soup
2009: USTR’s system of NDAs to provide private sector access to ACTA position
2009: White House shares the ACTA Internet text with 42 Washington insiders, under non disclosure agreements
2009: USTR statement on use of NDAs to provide access to ACTA Internet text
2009: White House: ACTA still “secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy”
2009: Letter to President Obama on ACTA Transparency
2011: Judge rejects USTR claim that negotiating position in FTAA investment chapter is exempt from FOIA
2011: Civil Society on transparency, public health in TPPA; 28 Senators call for highest standards of protection IP in agreement
2012: KEI asks Senator Leahy (D-VT) to demand greater transparency in the TPPA
2012: Wyden files legislative amendments to require transparency in TPPA and Congressional approval for ACTA
2013: KEI Comments on US/EU Trade negotiations (TTIP), Docket No. USTR-2013-0019
2013: White House refuses FIOA request for documents on country positions on transparency of ACTA negotiations
2014: EU’s TTIP Anti-Transparency Rules laid out in DG-Trade letter to USTR
2014: TTIP: Anti-Transparency Rules laid out in USTR letter to DG-Trade