Activists Seek Seat On Chemical Trade Panel

Abstract

Environmental groups are asking a federal court to force the U.S. government to include an environmental activist among the members of a federal advisory group on trade in chemicals. This lawsuit is necessary to force the Administration to bring some of [its] policies in line with its rhetoric about greater openness and balance in trade policy, says Patti Goldman, attorney with Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund. Goldman filed the suit in federal district court in Seattle on behalf of Earthjustice, Public Citizen, and the Washington Toxics Coalition. In November 1999, the same court directed the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to include an environmental group representative on its advisory panels for paper and wood products. The court ruled that these two panels violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act because they consisted entirely of industry representatives (C&EN, Nov. 15, 1999, page 23). The Clinton Administration appealed the decision in January. After the ruling, environmental act...