[Principled]

There isn't any way you could successfully conduct a high-stakes negotiation among 12 parties in public, so saying that's the only way that's acceptable is the same as saying you don't want any trade agrements.

First, nobody is saying anyone wants to conduct negotiations in public. That's a strawman. What people are saying is that we do not want to have something undesirable happen due to secrecy. Indeed, some specific examples have been provided - things relating to amnesty/immigration and "living documents" that can change without approval for example.

Those two things at a minimum need to be cleared up. Separately, they need to clear up the secrecy thing. Why does something have to be classified? Why are there gag orders on the people who view the classified agreement?

This needs to be cleared up is all.

[semimojo]

Why are there gag orders on the people who view the classified agreement?

This needs to be cleared up is all.

The gag orders exist so the interim positions of the US and the other 11 countries don't get leaked while the negotiations are in progress - conducting the negotiations in public, in other words.

Regarding undesirable aspects of the deal, I completely agree that we need to be on guard. That's the purpose of the 60 day period between publication of the text of the agreement and the vote by congress.