Italy wants EU-US trade talks made public

(ROME) - Italy has written to its EU partners calling for the details of talks on a vast trade deal with the United States to be made public, an official statement said on Monday.

Publication would "favour a greater understanding and awareness" by public opinion of the benefits of a trade-opening deal, an economic development ministry statement.

The letter was co-signed by the European Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht. Italy currently holds the presidency of EU ministerial meetings.

Resistance among anti-globalisation protesters in both the United States and the European Union has grown since the talks began a year ago, with activists worried that the deal is being negotiated behind closed doors to the benefit of corporate interests.

Leftist and environmental groups in particular have called for EU and US negotiators to publish the details of their talks.

The chief negotiators have insisted that the TTIP, as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is known, would protect consumers.

But while Gucht has always been favourable to the details being made public, certain member states oppose the move.