WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Clinton administration Tuesday called on the World Trade Organization to increase public access to its operations, hoping to address the concerns of free-trade critics who say the WTO is too secretive.
Specifically, the United States urged the Geneva-based trade body to release more of its documents and reports, open its meetings and improve its Web site.
"Given the increasing prominence that trade and trade agreements play in the global economy, it is critical that WTO members immediately improve their communications with the public," U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said in a statement.
Labor unions, consumer rights groups and other critics of the WTO have long complained that the organization is too secretive, and say its rules benefit big business at the expense of workers and the environment.
Massive protests by the groups shut down last year's WTO meetings in Seattle, giving new impetus to efforts by the United States and other nations to improve the trade body's transparency.:
