GATT Trade Panels

* Is anyone minding the store? It seems GATT is working to create a World Trade Organization. Imagine! A permanent bureaucracy that would have power over U.S. laws, yet be unaccountable, secretive and undemocratic. Under the WTO, panels of three unelected trade bureaucrats would hear challenges by other nations to U.S. laws. If a challenged U.S. law was found to violate its trade rules, the WTO could direct the United States to change the law or face automatic economic sanctions. This would put laws passed by Congress and state and local governments at risk to unelected, unaccountable trade bureaucrats. The process is closed to the press and public. Documents are kept secret and are not subject to the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

The World Trade Organization is wrong for a democracy like ours. Where are our representatives?

HELEN TIEGER

Huntington Beach