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The U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement is shopping around to professors, trying to get them to help "expand the conversation" around the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the public – even though TPP is still secret. In other words, "We can't share what's in TPP with you, but would like you to write about how great it is."

Here is an example of a professor being solicited to write about how great TPP is, without knowing what is actually in it:

From: Gainer, Mitch <Mitchel_J_Gainer@ustr.eop.gov>
Date: Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 12:45 PM
Subject: USTR Trans-Pacific Partnership professor outreach
To: XXX

Dear Professor XXX,

The U.S Trade Representative is enthusiastic to inform you and your office that The Trans-Pacific Partnership has closed ministerial negotiations!

We believe that your expertise in labor standards in international trade would be significant in expanding the conversation about the benefits of this historic trade agreement to your larger community. I would be delighted to set up a call if you are interested in writing an op-ed, writing a blog post, doing research, or being on background for reporters - to highlight the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We would love to provide you with as much information as we can and answer any questions.

For more information about the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership take a look at www.ustr.gov/tpp. It has detailed issue-by-issue fact sheets for the areas that TPP will address.

Please let me know if there is time that works for you in the next two weeks to talk. When you respond, please include Catherine Vegis at Catherine_A_Vegis@ustr.gov - thank you!

Best,
Mitch

Mitch Gainer
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Mitchel_J_Gainer@ustr.eop.gov

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