The TPP is about far more than trade; of the 29 sections only 5 have to do with trade. The rest would impact a broad range of categories from intellectual property rights to food safety. When enacted, this would become part of our law, making vast changes to the laws of our land. It would also give foreign companies the right to sue our government in international court if our regulations affect their profits.

Why have officials from Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, Cisco Systems Inc. and General Electric Co. been involved in the details of the negotiations while our own legislators, such as Elizabeth Warren and Alan Grayson, are left out? What would our Founders make of this process?

Last month, 151 House Democrats, members of Obama’s own party, sent a letter to the White House stating their opposition to granting him Fast Track Authority to negotiate trade agreements, citing a lack of Congressional consultation. If our government wants our trust, it should open the discussion to public debate.