Political Quotes

“I certainly oppose our withdrawal from participation in the World Trade Organization, but I share many of the concerns that have been voiced here today concerning the way the WTO operates. When a dispute arises in the WTO, perhaps over another nation's claim that an environmental law represents a discriminatory barrier to international commerce, the WTO tribunal acts in a somewhat star chamber-type proceeding. The complaint itself may be sealed. The hearings are closed. The briefs are confidential. If there are outside concerned parties that would file an amicus brief, if a United States court were involved, they are denied that right to reflect broader policy considerations that might arise from the dispute resolution. And conflict of interest procedures are lacking. I do not think, given that circumstance, that there can be any wonder why conspiracy theorists and why many people, who simply have a reasonable and legitimate concern about the environment and human rights, are very suspicious about the way that the WTO operates.”