Congressional Democrats are opposing new secrecy surrounding the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The United States is in talks with 11 [other Pacific Rim] countries for a sweeping trade pact covering 40 percent of the global economy. Its provisions have mostly been kept secret. A briefing is set for lawmakers today in Washington, D.C. But they will not be able to discuss it publicly because the meeting has been deemed “classified.” Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut says the White House is being “needlessly secretive,” adding: “If the TPP would be as good for American jobs as they claim, there should be nothing to hide.” Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson said: “The only purpose of classifying this information is to keep it from the American people.”