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By Matt Fuller Posted at 5:11 p.m. on Jan. 29

Levinsaid Congress needs more transparency from Obama on the Pacific trade deal. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

PHILADELPHIA As Congress and the White House work on a trade agreement with Pacific countries, a key Democrat in the negotiations is criticizing the Obama administration for a lack of transparency and more specifically, a lack of access to the actual text.

Ways and Means ranking Democrat Sander M. Levin told reporters assembled at a hotel conference room roundtable that the White House was not allowing members of Congress to know what is being offered by which countries in an emerging trade deal.

I should say it isnt broadly known, Levin said. I may have more information.

Humblebrags aside, Levin emphasized the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is an emerging trade deal with 12 Pacific countries.We need to get it right, the Michigan Democratsaid. And to get it right, we need to know whats in it.

Levin called the situation a failure of access.

Levin said he and his Republican counterpart, Ways and Means Chairman Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, told the administration it needs to shape up on transparency.

We need to join hands with this administration, he said. Levin seemed to consider that sentence. It didnt seem right. They have to join hands with us, he clarified.

The TPP has been a major question in Congress. Democrats say they are open togiving the president the authority to sign the trade deal, but they have concerns. Specifically, Levin mentionsprovisionstoincrease agricultural exports toPacific countries, access to Japans auto market, the inclusion of currency manipulation safeguards in the trade deal, and enforceable worker and environmental standards something which Levin said was the biggest problem with the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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Key Democrat Criticizes Obama on Trade Negotiations