--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To someone like me, who has watched trade…" description: "\"To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations closely for more than a quarter-century, it is clear that U.S. trade negotiators got most of wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/joseph-stiglitz-1351_behind-closed-doors_to-someone-like-me-who-has-watched-trade_2929464.jpg" --- # To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations… ![“To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations closely for more than a quarter-century, it is clear that U.S. trade negotiators got most of what they wanted. The problem was with what they wanted. Their agenda was set, behind closed doors, by corporations.” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/joseph-stiglitz-1351_behind-closed-doors_to-someone-like-me-who-has-watched-trade_2929464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/joseph-stiglitz-1351_behind-closed-doors_to-someone-like-me-who-has-watched-trade_2929464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/joseph-stiglitz-1351_behind-closed-doors_to-someone-like-me-who-has-watched-trade_2929464.jpg) > “To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations closely for more than a quarter-century, it is clear that U.S. trade negotiators got most of what they wanted. The problem was with what they wanted. Their agenda was set, behind closed doors, by corporations.” [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. trade deals favor corporations, not the public interest. **In simple terms:** Corporate agendas dominate trade. Key Takeaway Demand transparency in negotiations. Themes trade corporations policy economics public interest Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - public hearings - corporate lobbying - consumer activism Key Concepts neoliberalism regulation economic inequality Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from current trade policies? - How can citizens influence trade agendas? A Different Perspective Complex global factors also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behind closed doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-closed-doors/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) ## Related quotes > [Trump said we got snookered. That those agreements like NAFTA were the worst agreements ever and suggested that our trade negotiators were snookered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trump-said-we-got-snookered-that-those-agreements-like-nafta-were-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [“I had watched them trade best friends, start wars, cry, trade back, make treaties, squeal and grab each other's arms in this fake-excited way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/i-had-watched-them-trade-best-friends-start-wars-cry-trade-back-make/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [We have worked to make our trade negotiations more transparent and to negotiate value-based agreements. We have listened to concerns, for example by carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-malmstrom/we-have-worked-to-make-our-trade-negotiations-more-transparent-and-to/) [Cecilia Malmstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-malmstrom/) > [Trade negotiations require compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/trade-negotiations-require-compromise/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [I think that the European Union negotiators have gotten a shock. They were shocked when they realised the Brexit trade negotiations were not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/i-think-that-the-european-union-negotiators-have-gotten-a-shock-they/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [I had the trade minister in China sit down as we were preparing for trade negotiations. He said, 'Please don't let people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-had-the-trade-minister-in-china-sit-down-as-we-were-preparing-for/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [While the WTO negotiations will continue, there are other trade negotiations of a bilateral nature, which among other things, should help to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/while-the-wto-negotiations-will-continue-there-are-other-trade/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [The WTO has outlived its usefulness as a setting for trade negotiations. It can still be a good place to resolve disputes (though this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-altman/the-wto-has-outlived-its-usefulness-as-a-setting-for-trade/) [Daniel Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-altman/) > [“Eric Spiegel, the head of Siemens’ US arm, laid out a vision not that far removed from Ms Huang’s when he spoke at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/eric-spiegel-the-head-of-siemens-us-arm-laid-out-a-vision-not-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our trade negotiations should ensure that American workers are protected and that there are mechanisms in place to deal with other countries cheating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beruff/our-trade-negotiations-should-ensure-that-american-workers-are/) [Carlos Beruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beruff/) > [Without the U.S. leading the way in trade negotiations, we likely will see irreversible damage to our environment and widespread abuse of labor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/without-the-u-s-leading-the-way-in-trade-negotiations-we-likely-will/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [The developing countries must be able to take a more active part in trade negotiations, through technical assistance and support from the developed countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/the-developing-countries-must-be-able-to-take-a-more-active-part-in/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [“International leaders in business, government, and nonprofit organizations whisper behind closed doors about the way visiting Americans live in their own bubbles without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/international-leaders-in-business-government-and-nonprofit/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [“The lawyers ceded their right to argue to case before the justices. A verdict would be rendered in secret, behind closed doors, with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-berard/the-lawyers-ceded-their-right-to-argue-to-case-before-the-justices-a/) [Adrienne Berard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-berard/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) ## More by Joseph Stiglitz > [I grew up in a family in which political issues were often discussed, and debated intensely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-grew-up-in-a-family-in-which-political-issues-were-often-discussed/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [But individuals and firms spend an enormous amount of resources acquiring information, which affects their beliefs; and actions of others too affect their beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/but-individuals-and-firms-spend-an-enormous-amount-of-resources/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [China, with its large emerging middle class, is among the big beneficiaries of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/china-with-its-large-emerging-middle-class-is-among-the-big/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Trickle-down economics is a myth. Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trickle-down-economics-is-a-myth-enriching-corporations-as-the-tpp/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality-because-some-people-have-been/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [It's actually a tribute to the quality of economics teaching that they have persuaded so many generations of students to believe in so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/it-s-actually-a-tribute-to-the-quality-of-economics-teaching-that/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [In an economy, when the government spends more and invests in the economy, that money circulates, and recirculates again and again. So not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/in-an-economy-when-the-government-spends-more-and-invests-in-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The laws of normal economics dictate that lower taxes combined with increased spending will lead to bigger deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-laws-of-normal-economics-dictate-that-lower-taxes-combined-with/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [A less healthy America is not going to be as productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/a-less-healthy-america-is-not-going-to-be-as-productive/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [As I noted in my Nobel lecture, an early insight in my work on the economics of information concerned the problem of appropriability -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/as-i-noted-in-my-nobel-lecture-an-early-insight-in-my-work-on-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [We noted the psychological problems facing many of the returning from Iraq veterans - of the 700,000 returning veterans, more than a 100,000 have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/we-noted-the-psychological-problems-facing-many-of-the-returning-from/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [World War II was really unusual, because America was in the Great Depression before. So the war did help the US economy to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because-america-was-in-the-great/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Moreover, because we chose to finance the way by borrowing, our deficits and debt has soared, and this means we have less room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/moreover-because-we-chose-to-finance-the-way-by-borrowing-our/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [I've always been sceptical about the notion that the market is a person you can engage in an argument with, and that that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-ve-always-been-sceptical-about-the-notion-that-the-market-is-a/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The striking thing about America is - it's historically, extraordinary unusual,I don't of any other instance - is that productivity of workers and wages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-striking-thing-about-america-is-it-s-historically-extraordinary/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) [Explore all 251 Joseph Stiglitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## More Behind closed doors quotes > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [“The lawyers ceded their right to argue to case before the justices. 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I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One two, and you don't stop, yo, My eyes is sore, bein a senator, Behind closed doors hittin truth to the seafloor, The rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wu-tang/one-two-and-you-don-t-stop-yo-my-eyes-is-sore-bein-a-senator-behind/) [Wu Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wu-tang/) > [What you don't know is when she get home and get behind closed doors, man she hit the floor and what you can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mary/what-you-don-t-know-is-when-she-get-home-and-get-behind-closed-doors/) [Mary Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mary/) > [Seen too many ratchet ass hoes gettin sitcom. Behind closed doors all they do is suck d\*ck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/webbie/seen-too-many-ratchet-ass-hoes-gettin-sitcom-behind-closed-doors-all/) Webbie > [“If anything should take place behind closed doors, it was cruelty and betrayal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-st-aubyn/if-anything-should-take-place-behind-closed-doors-it-was-cruelty-and/) [Edward St. Aubyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-st-aubyn/) > [If Im not good enough to be taken out in public. Im too good for you behind closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-im-not-good-enough-to-be-taken-out-in-public-im-too-good-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fighting behind closed doors is like going back to be an amateur, or your early days as a professional. Up and coming fighters can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/fighting-behind-closed-doors-is-like-going-back-to-be-an-amateur-or/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [“Consider standing in honor and transparency whether behind closed doors or if those doors are open to the world at large.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-weisman/consider-standing-in-honor-and-transparency-whether-behind-closed/) [Loren Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-weisman/) > [“Poor innocent baby, about to get fleeced. "Tut-tut, gorgeous. You know when you play poker with a man behind closed doors, there is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/poor-innocent-baby-about-to-get-fleeced-tut-tut-gorgeous-you-know/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) [Browse all 207 Behind closed doors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-closed-doors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To someone like me, who has watched trade negotiations closely for more than a quarter-century, it is clear that U.S. trade negotiators got most of what they wanted. The problem was with what they wanted. 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