US trade negotiations like TPP should not be secret

[Commentary] Tech heavyweights such as Apple, Intel and Facebook want to hasten the adoption of free-trade agreements that will help them compete with global rivals. We're sympathetic. So is President Barack Obama. His solution is to give him the authority to fast-track international trade deals by limiting the ability of Congress to participate in them.

Backed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and other trade organizations, President Obama is pushing the Bay Area's congressional delegation to get on board so he can accelerate deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could enormously help the tech community. But many lawmakers, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA), are either undecided or flat against it. Some, such as Reps Lofgren and Eshoo, typically are on tech's side. We're all for free trade, but we see their point. Trust is in short supply in Washington on both sides of the aisle. This is not the time to hunker down on secrecy. Let people see what's in the works and maybe catch fixable problems before they blow up in a yes-or-no showdown.