On May 8, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade agreement between the United States and Asia-Pacific countries, kicked off a new round of negotiations. These talks will be held in secret with the text of the trade agreement hidden from the public.

However, if approved, the agreement would create legally binding obligations on federal, state, and local governments, which could undermine domestic environmental and health laws. In other words, the agreement has the potential to impact the lives of millions of Americans. For example, the TPP could threaten the U.S. Public Health Service Act, which provides low-cost, lifesaving drugs to millions of low-income and disabled Americans. The trade agreement would allow foreign corporations to challenge state and local rules on natural gas and oil extraction, food labeling, and safety standards.

Surprised? That's by design. Intense efforts have been made to block the public from knowing even the most basic content of this agreement. Last year, negotiators signed a special pact to keep all documents related to the talks a secret. In fact, leaked documents reveal that the final text of the TPP agreement will remain secret for four years after it goes into force (or, if no agreement is reached, four years after negotiations end).

This practice is unprecedented for free trade agreement negotiations in which the United States has participated, and an assault on representative government. No appointed public official should be able to impose agreements with the force of law on citizens who have not had any opportunity to see, let alone weigh in on the content of the agreements.

Public interest organizations have launched campaigns to educate the public and demand that the governments involved release the working texts of the trade agreement. OMB Watch joined more than 20 organizations calling for President Obama to publicly release all draft negotiating texts last February.

What do you think? Check out Public Citizen's video on the potential impacts of the TPP agreement. Sign the petition to demand that the draft texts be made public. Take action!