[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3929]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


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Part III





Department of Commerce





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International Trade Administration



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North American Free Trade Agreement: Rules of Procedure for Article 
1904 Extraordinary Challenge Committees; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

 
North American Free Trade Agreement: Rules of Procedure for 
Article 1904 Extraordinary Challenge Committees

AGENCY: North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA Secretariat, United 
States Section, International Trade Administration, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Rules of Procedure for NAFTA Article 1904 Extraordinary 
Challenge Committees.

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SUMMARY: Canada, Mexico, and the United States have negotiated the 
rules of procedure for Article 1904 extraordinary challenge committee 
proceedings. These rules apply to extraordinary challenges conducted 
pursuant to Article 1904 of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1994, the date of the entry into force of 
the North American Free Trade Agreement (``Agreement''). These Rules of 
Procedure shall apply to all extraordinary challenge committee 
proceedings under the Agreement commenced on or after the effective 
date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa B. Koteen, Senior Attorney, Stacy 
J. Ettinger, Attorney-Advisor, or Terrence J. McCartin, Attorney-
Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel for Import Administration, room B-
099, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0836, (202) 482-4618, or 
(202) 482-5031, respectively. For procedural matters involving 
extraordinary challenge committee proceedings, contact James R. 
Holbein, United States Secretary, NAFTA Secretariat, room 2061, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5438; fax: (202) 482-0148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Chapter Nineteen of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
(``Agreement'') establishes a mechanism for replacing judicial review 
of final antidumping and countervailing duty determinations involving 
imports from Canada, Mexico, or the United States with review by 
independent binational panels. If requested, these panels will 
expeditiously review final determinations to determine whether they are 
consistent with the antidumping or countervailing duty law of the 
importing country.
    In instances in which one of the Parties to the Agreement alleges, 
pursuant to Article 1904.13 of the Agreement, that (a)(i) a member of a 
panel materially violated the rules of conduct, (ii) the panel 
seriously departed from a fundamental rule of procedure, or (iii) the 
panel manifestly exceeded its powers, authority or jurisdiction, and 
that (b) any of the actions set out in (a) has materially affected the 
panel's decision and threatens the integrity of the binational panel 
review process, that Party may request formation of an extraordinary 
challenge committee (``ECC''). Extraordinary challenge committee review 
is therefore not a routine appeal. Rather, as the name suggests, 
Canada, Mexico, or the United States may have recourse to an ECC only 
in extraordinary cases.
    Title IV of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation 
Act of 1993, Public Law No. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, amends United 
States law to implement Chapter Nineteen of the Agreement.
    The NAFTA Extraordinary Challenge Committee Rules are intended to 
give effect to the ECC provisions of Chapter Nineteen of the Agreement 
by setting forth the procedures for commencing, conducting, and 
completing extraordinary challenge proceedings. These rules are the 
result of negotiations among Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 
compliance with the terms of the Agreement, and are derived in large 
part from the Extraordinary Challenge Committee Rules under the United 
States-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

North American Free Trade Agreement

Rules of Procedure for Article 1904 Extraordinary Challenge 
Committees

Contents

Preamble

Rule
1. Short Title
2. Statement of General Intent
3. Interpretation

Part I--General

8. Internal Functioning of Committees
10. Computation of Time
12. Counsel of Record
13. Costs
14. Proprietary Information and Privileged Information
22. Violation of Code of Conduct
23. Pleadings and Simultaneous Translation of Extraordinary 
Challenge Proceedings in Canada

Part II--Written Proceedings

28. Filing, Service and Communications
36. Form and Content of Pleadings
37. Requests for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee
40. Notices of Appearance
42. Filing and Content of Briefs and Appendices
44. Motions

Part III--Conduct of Oral Proceedings

48. Oral Proceedings in Camera

Part IV--Responsibilities of the Secretary

Part V--Orders and Decisions

Part VI--Completion of Extraordinary Challenges

Preamble

    The Parties,
    Having regard to Chapter Nineteen of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement between Canada, the United Mexican States and the United 
States of America;
    Acting pursuant to paragraph 2 of Annex 1904.13 to Chapter Nineteen 
of the Agreement;
    Adopted the Rules of Procedure, which shall come into force on the 
same day as the Agreement enters into force and from that day shall 
govern all extraordinary challenge committee proceedings conducted 
pursuant to Article 1904 of the Agreement.

Short Title

    1. These rules may be cited as the NAFTA Extraordinary Challenge 
Committee Rules.

Statement of General Intent

    2. These rules are intended to give effect to the provisions of 
Chapter Nineteen of the Agreement with respect to extraordinary 
challenges conducted pursuant to Article 1904 of the Agreement and are 
designed to result in decisions within 90 days after the establishment 
of the committee. Where a procedural question arises that is not 
covered by these rules, a committee may adopt an appropriate procedure 
that is not inconsistent with the Agreement. In the event of any 
inconsistency between the provisions of these Rules and the Agreement, 
the Agreement shall prevail.

Interpretation

    3. In these rules,
    ``Agreement'' means the North American Free Trade Agreement;
    ``Code of Conduct'' means the code of conduct established by the 
Parties pursuant to Article 1909 of the Agreement;
    ``committee'' means an extraordinary challenge committee 
established pursuant to Annex 1904.13 to Chapter Nineteen of the 
Agreement;
    ``counsel'' means
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, a person entitled to appear as 
counsel before the Federal Court of Canada,
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Mexico, a person entitled to appear as 
counsel before the Tribunal Fiscal de la Federacion, and
    (c) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, a person entitled to 
appear as counsel before a federal court in the United States;
    ``counsel of record'' means a counsel referred to in subrule 12(1);
    ``Deputy Minister'' means the Deputy Minister of National Revenue 
for Customs and Excise, or the successor thereto, and includes any 
person authorized to perform a power, duty or function of the Deputy 
Minister under the Special Import Measures Act, as amended;
    ``final determination'' means, in the case of Canada, a definitive 
decision within the meaning of subsection 77.01(1) of the Special 
Import Measures Act, as amended;
    ``investigating authority'' means the competent investigating 
authority that issued the final determination that was the subject of 
the panel review to which an extraordinary challenge relates and 
includes, in respect of the issuance, amendment, modification or 
revocation of a Proprietary Information Access Order, any person 
authorized by the investigating authority;
    ``involved Secretariat'' means the section of the Secretariat 
located in the country of an involved Party;
    ``legal holiday'' means
    (a) with respect to the Canadian Section of the Secretariat, every 
Saturday and Sunday, New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday, Easter 
Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day (first Monday in 
September), Thanksgiving Day (second Monday in October), Remembrance 
Day (November 11), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 
26), any other day fixed as a statutory holiday by the Government of 
Canada or by the province in which the Section is located and any day 
on which the offices of the Canadian Section of the Secretariat are 
officially closed in whole or in part,
    (b) with respect to the Mexican Section of the Secretariat, every 
Saturday and Sunday, New Year's Day (January 1), Constitution Day 
(February 5), Benito Juarez's Birthday (March 21), Labor Day (May 1), 
Battle of Puebla (May 5), Independence Day (September 16), 
Congressional Opening Day (November 1), Revolution Day (November 20), 
Transmission of the Federal Executive Branch (every six years on 
December 1), Christmas Day (December 25), any day designated as a 
statutory holiday by the Federal Laws or, in the case of Ordinary 
Elections, by the Local Electoral Laws and any day on which the offices 
of the Mexican Section of the Secretariat are officially closed in 
whole or in part, and
    (c) with respect to the United States Section of the Secretariat, 
every Saturday and Sunday, New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther 
King's Birthday (third Monday in January), President's Day (third 
Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence 
Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day 
(second Monday in October), Veterans' Day (November 11), Thanksgiving 
Day (fourth Thursday in November), Christmas Day (December 25), any 
other day designated as a holiday by the President or the Congress of 
the United States and any day on which the offices of the Government of 
the United States located in the District of Columbia or the offices of 
the United States Section of the Secretariat are officially closed in 
whole or in part;
    ``Mexico'' means the United Mexican States;
    ``official publication'' means
    (a) in the case of the Government of Canada, the Canada Gazette,
    (b) in the case of the Government of Mexico, the Diario Oficial de 
la Federacion, and
    (c) in the case of the Government of the United States, the Federal 
Register;
    ``panel'' means a binational panel established pursuant to Annex 
1901.2 to Chapter Nineteen of the Agreement, the decision of which is 
the subject of an extraordinary challenge;
    ``participant'' means a Party who files a Request for an 
Extraordinary Challenge Committee or any of the following persons who 
files a Notice of Appearance pursuant to these rules:
    (a) the other involved Party,
    (b) a person who participated in the panel review that is the 
subject of the extraordinary challenge, and
    (c) a panelist against whom an allegation referred to in Article 
1904.13(a)(i) of the Agreement is made;
    ``Party'' means the Government of Canada, the Government of Mexico 
or the Government of the United States;
    ``person'' means
    (a) an individual,
    (b) a Party,
    (c) an investigating authority,
    (d) a government of a province, state or other political 
subdivision of the country of a Party,
    (e) a department, agency or body of a Party or of a government 
referred to in paragraph (d), or
    (f) a partnership, corporation or association;
    ``personal information'' means, with respect to an extraordinary 
challenge proceeding in which an allegation is made that a member of 
the panel was guilty of gross misconduct, bias or a serious conflict of 
interest or otherwise materially violated the rules of conduct, the 
information referred to in subrule 39(2) and rule 41;
    ``pleading'' means a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge 
Committee, a Notice of Appearance, a Change of Service Address, a 
Notice of Change of Counsel of Record, a Notice of Motion, a brief or 
any other written submission filed by a participant;
    ``privileged information'' means
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, information of the investigating 
authority that is subject to solicitor-client privilege under the laws 
of Canada, or that constitutes part of the deliberative process with 
respect to the final determination, with respect to which the privilege 
has not been waived,
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Mexico,
    (i) information of the investigating authority that is subject to 
attorney-client privilege under the laws of Mexico, or
    (ii) internal communications between officials of the Secretaria de 
Comercio y Fomento Industrial in charge of antidumping and 
countervailing duty investigations or communications between those 
officials and other government officials, where those communications 
constitute part of the deliberative process with respect to the final 
determination, and
    (c) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, information of the 
investigating authority that is subject to the attorney-client, 
attorney work product or government deliberative process privilege 
under the laws of the United States and with respect to which the 
privilege has not been waived;
    ``proof of service'' means
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada or Mexico,
    (i) an affidavit of service stating the name of the person who 
served the document, the date on which it was served, where it was 
served and the manner of service, or
    (ii) a written acknowledgement of service by counsel for a 
participant stating the name of the person who served the document, the 
date on which it was served and the manner of service and, where the 
acknowledgement is signed by a person other than the counsel, the name 
of that person followed by a statement that the person is signing as 
agent for the counsel, and
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, a certificate of 
service in the form of a statement of the date and manner of service 
and of the name of the person served, signed by the person who made 
service;
    ``proprietary information'' means
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, information referred to in 
subsection 84(3) of the Special Import Measures Act, as amended, or 
subsection 45(3) of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act, as 
amended, and with respect to which the person who designated or 
submitted the information has not withdrawn the person's claim as to 
the confidentiality of the information,
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Mexico, informacion confidencial, as 
defined under article 80 of the Ley de Comercio Exterior and its 
regulations, and
    (c) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, business proprietary 
information under section 777(f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
and any regulations made under that Act;
    ``Proprietary Information Access Application'' means
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, a disclosure undertaking in the 
prescribed form, which form
    (i) in respect of a final determination by the Deputy Minister, is 
available from the Deputy Minister, and
    (ii) in respect of a final determination by the Tribunal, is 
available from the Tribunal,
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Mexico, a disclosure undertaking in the 
prescribed form, which form is available from the Secretaria de 
Comercio y Fomento Industrial, and
    (c) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, a Protective Order 
Application
    (i) in respect of a final determination by the International Trade 
Administration of the United States Department of Commerce, in a form 
prescribed by, and available from, the International Trade 
Administration of the United States Department of Commerce, and
    (ii) in respect of a final determination by the United States 
International Trade Commission, in a form prescribed by, and available 
from, the United States International Trade Commission;
    ``Proprietary Information Access Order'' means
    (a) in the case of Canada, a Disclosure Order issued by the Deputy 
Minister or the Tribunal pursuant to a Proprietary Information Access 
Application,
    (b) in the case of Mexico, a Disclosure Order issued by the 
Secretaria de Comercio y Fomento Industrial pursuant to a Proprietary 
Information Access Application, and
    (c) in the case of the United States, a Protective Order issued by 
the International Trade Administration of the United States Department 
of Commerce or the United States International Trade Commission 
pursuant to a Proprietary Information Access Application;
    ``responsible Secretariat'' means, with respect to an extraordinary 
challenge of a panel review, the section of the Secretariat located in 
the country in which the final determination reviewed by the panel was 
made;
    ``responsible Secretary'' means the Secretary of the responsible 
Secretariat;
    ``Secretariat'' meant the Secretariat established pursuant to 
Article 2002 of the Agreement;
    ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the United States Section of 
the Secretariat, the Secretary of the Mexican Section of the 
Secretariat or the Secretary of the Canadian Section of the Secretariat 
and includes any person authorized to act on behalf of that Secretary;
    ``service address'' means
    (a) with respect to a Party or panelist, the address filed with the 
Secretariat as the service address of the Party or panelist, including 
any facsimile number submitted with that address,
    (b) with respect to a participant other than a Party or panelist, 
the service address of the participant in the panel review, or
    (c) where a Change of Service Address has been filed by a Party, 
panelist or participant, the address set out as the new service address 
of the participant in that form, including any facsimile number 
submitted with that address;
    ``Tribunal'' means the Canadian International Trade Tribunal or its 
successor and includes any person authorized to act on its behalf;
    ``United States'' means the United States of America.
    4. The definitions set forth in Article 1911 of the Agreement and 
Annex 1911 to Chapter 19 of the Agreement are hereby incorporated into 
these rules.

Part I--General

    5. An extraordinary challenge proceeding commences on the day on 
which a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee is filed with 
the Secretariat and terminates on the day on which a Notice of 
Completion of Extraordinary Challenge is effective.
    6. The general legal principles of the country in which a final 
determination was made apply in an extraordinary challenge of the 
decision of a panel with respect to the final determination.
    7. A committee may review any part of the record of the panel 
review relevant to the extraordinary challenge.

Internal Functioning of Committees

    8. (1) For routine administrative matters governing its own 
internal functioning, a committee may adopt procedures not inconsistent 
with these rules or the Agreement.
    (2) Subject to subrule 34(b), meetings of a committee may be 
conducted by means of a telephone conference call.
    9. Only committee members may take part in the deliberations of a 
committee, which shall take place in private and remain secret. Staff 
of the involved Secretariats and assistants to committee members may be 
present by permission of the committee.

Computation of Time

    10. (1) In computing any time period fixed in these rules or by an 
order or decision of a committee, the day from which the time period 
begins to run shall be excluded and, subject to subrules (2) and (3), 
the last day of the time period shall be included.
    (2) Where the last day of a time period computed in accordance with 
subrule (1) falls on a legal holiday of the responsible Secretariat, 
that day and any other legal holidays of the responsible Secretariat 
immediately following that day shall be excluded from the computation.
    (3) In computing any time period of five days or less fixed in 
these rules or by an order or decision of a committee, any legal 
holiday that falls within the time period shall be excluded from the 
computation.
    11. A committee may extend any time period fixed in these rules if
    (a) the extension is made in the interests of fairness and justice; 
and
    (b) in fixing the extension, the committee takes into account the 
intent of the rules to secure just, speedy and inexpensive final 
resolutions of challenges to decisions of panels.

Counsel of Record

    12. (1) Subject to subrule (2), the counsel of record for a 
participant in an extraordinary challenge proceeding shall be
    (a) the counsel for the participant in the panel review; or
    (b) in the case of a Party who was not a participant in the panel 
review or of a panelist, the counsel who signs any document filed on 
behalf of the Party or panelist in the extraordinary challenge 
proceeding.
    (2) A participant may change its counsel of record by filing with 
the responsible Secretariat a Notice of Change of Counsel of Record 
signed by the new counsel, together with proof of service on the former 
counsel and other participants.

Costs

    13. Each participant shall bear the costs of, and incidental to, 
its own participation in an extraordinary challenge proceeding.

Proprietary Information and Privileged Information

    14. (1) Where proprietary information has been filed in a panel 
review that is the subject of an extraordinary challenge proceeding, 
every member of a committee, assistant to a committee member, court 
reporter, interpreter and translator shall provide the responsible 
Secretariat with a Proprietary Information Access Application.
    (2) Upon receipt of a Proprietary Information Access Application, 
the responsible Secretary shall file with the appropriate investigating 
authority the Proprietary Information Access Application and any 
additional copies of those documents required by the investigating 
authority.
    (3) The investigating authority shall issue the Proprietary 
Information Access Order and provide the responsible Secretariat with 
the original and any additional copies of those documents required by 
the responsible Secretariat.
    (4) Upon receipt of a Proprietary Information Access Order, the 
responsible Secretary shall transmit the original Proprietary 
Information Access Order to the appropriate member of a committee, 
assistant to a committee member, court reporter, interpreter or 
translator.
    15. (1) A member of a committee, assistant to a committee member, 
court reporter, interpreter or translator who amends or modifies a 
Proprietary Information Access Application shall provide a copy of the 
amendment or modification to the responsible Secretariat.
    (2) Upon receipt of an amendment or modification to a Proprietary 
Information Access Application, the responsible Secretary shall file 
with the appropriate investigating authority that document and any 
additional copies of that document required by the investigating 
authority.
    (3) Upon receipt of an amendment or modification to a Proprietary 
Information Access Application, the investigating authority shall, as 
appropriate, amend, modify or revoke the Proprietary Information Access 
Order and provide the responsible Secretariat with the original of the 
amendment, modification or notice of revocation and any additional 
copies of the document required by the responsible Secretariat.
    (4) Upon receipt of an amendment or modification to a Proprietary 
Information Access Order or a notice of revocation, the responsible 
Secretary shall transmit the amendment, modification or notice of 
revocation to the appropriate member of a committee, assistant to a 
committee member, court reporter, interpreter or translator.
    16. The responsible Secretary shall serve Proprietary Information 
Access Orders granted to members of a committee, assistants to 
committee members, court reporters, interpreters or translators, and 
any amendments or modifications thereto or notices of revocation 
thereof, on all participants other than the investigating authority.
    17. (1) A counsel of record, or a professional retained by, or 
under the control or direction of, a counsel of record, who has not 
been issued a Proprietary Information Access Order in the panel review 
or in these proceedings and who wishes disclosure of proprietary 
information in the file of an extraordinary challenge proceeding, shall 
file a Proprietary Information Access Application, as follows:
    (a) with the responsible Secretariat, four copies; and
    (b) with the investigating authority, one original and any 
additional copies that the investigating authority requires.
    (2) A Proprietary Information Access Application referred to in 
subrule (1) shall be served on all participants.
    (3) The investigating authority shall, within 10 days after a 
Proprietary Information Access Application is filed with it in 
accordance with subrule (1), serve on the person who filed the 
Proprietary Information Access Application
    (a) a Proprietary Information Access Order; or
    (b) a notification in writing setting out the reasons why a 
Proprietary Information Access Order is not issued.
    18. (1) Where
    (a) an investigating authority refuses to issue a Proprietary 
Information Access Order to a counsel of record or to a professional 
retained by, or under the control or direction of, a counsel of record, 
or
    (b) an investigating authority issues a Proprietary Information 
Access Order with terms unacceptable to a counsel of record,

the counsel of record may file with the responsible Secretariat a 
Notice of Motion requesting that the committee review the decision of 
the investigating authority.

    (2) Where, after consideration of any response made by the 
investigating authority referred to in subrule (1), the committee 
decides that a Proprietary Information Access Order should be issued or 
that the terms of a Proprietary Information Access Order should be 
amended or modified, the committee shall so notify counsel for the 
investigating authority.
    (3) Where the final determination was made in the United States and 
the investigating authority fails to comply with the notification 
referred to in subrule (2), the committee may issue such orders as are 
just in the circumstances, including an order refusing to permit the 
investigating authority to make certain arguments in support of its 
case or striking certain arguments from its pleadings.
    19. (1) Where a Proprietary Information Access Order is issued to a 
person in an extraordinary challenge proceeding, the person shall file 
with the responsible Secretariat a copy of the Proprietary Information 
Access Order.
    (2) Where a Proprietary Information Access Order is revoked, 
amended or modified by an investigating authority, the investigating 
authority shall provide to the responsible Secretariat and to all 
participants a copy of the Notice of Revocation, amendment or 
modification.
    20. In an extraordinary challenge proceeding that commences with a 
Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee pursuant to Article 
1904.13(a)(i) of the Agreement, personal information shall be kept 
confidential
    (a) where a Notice of Motion is filed pursuant to subrule 41(1)(c),
    (i) until the committee makes an order referred to in subrule 
45(1)(a), or
    (ii) where the committee makes an order referred to in subrule 
45(1)(b), indefinitely, unless otherwise ordered by the committee; and
    (b) in any other case, until the day after the expiration of the 
time period fixed, pursuant to rule 41, for filing a Notice of Motion 
referred to in subrule 41(1)(c).
    21. Where a person alleges that the terms of a Proprietary 
Information Access Application or Proprietary Information Access Order 
have been violated, the committee shall refer the allegations to the 
investigating authority for investigation and, where applicable, the 
imposition of sanctions in accordance with section 77.034 of the 
Special Import Measures Act, as amended, section 777(f) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended, or article 93 of the Ley de Comercio Exterior.

Violation of Code of Conduct

    22. Where a participant believes that a committee member or an 
assistant to a committee member is in violation of the Code of Conduct, 
the participant shall forthwith notify the responsible Secretary in 
writing of the alleged violation. The responsible Secretary shall 
promptly notify the other involved Secretary and the involved Parties 
of the allegations.

Pleadings and Simultaneous Translation of Extraordinary Challenge 
Proceedings in Canada

    23. Rules 24 to 26 apply with respect to an extraordinary challenge 
of a panel review of a final determination made in Canada.
    24. Either English or French may be used by any person, panelist or 
member of a committee in any document or oral proceeding.
    25. (1) Subject to subrule (2), any order or decision including the 
reasons therefor, issued by a committee shall be made available 
simultaneously in both English and French where
    (a) In the opinion of the committee, the order or decision is in 
respect of a question of law of general public interest or importance; 
or
    (b) the proceedings leading to the issuance of the order or 
decision were conducted in whole or in part in both English and French.
    (2) Where
    (a) an order or decision issued by a committee is not required by 
subrule (1) to be made available simultaneously in English and French, 
or
    (b) an order or decision is required by subrule (1)(a) to be made 
available simultaneously in both English and French but the committee 
is of the opinion that to make the order or decision available 
simultaneously in both English and French would occasion a delay 
prejudicial to the public interest or result in injustice or hardship 
to any participant, the order or decision, including the reasons 
therefor, shall be issued in the first instance in either English or 
French and thereafter at the earliest possible time in the other 
language, each version to be effective from the time the first version 
is effective.
    (3) Nothing in subrule (1) or (2) shall be construed as prohibiting 
the oral delivery in either English or French of any order or decision 
or any reasons therefor.
    (4) No order or decision is invalid by reason only that it was not 
made or issued in both English and French.
    26. (1) Any oral proceeding conducted in both English and French 
shall be translated simultaneously.
    (2) Where a participant requests simultaneous translation of an 
extraordinary challenge proceeding, the request shall be made as early 
as possible in the proceedings.
    (3) Where a committee is of the opinion that there is a public 
interest in the extraordinary challenge proceedings, the committee may 
direct the responsible Secretary to arrange for simultaneous 
translation of the oral proceedings, if any.

Part II--Written Proceedings

    27. Where these rules require that notice be given, it shall be 
given in writing.

Filing, Service and Communications

    28. (1) No document is filed with the Secretariat until one 
original and five copies of the document are received by the 
responsible Secretariat during its normal business hours and within the 
time period fixed for filing.
    (2) The responsible Secretariat shall accept, date and time stamp 
and place in the appropriate file every document submitted to the 
responsible Secretariat.
    (3) Receipt, date and time stamping or placement in the file of a 
document by the responsible Secretariat does not constitute a waiver of 
any time period fixed for filing or an acknowledgement that the 
document has been filed in accordance with these rules.
    29. (1) All documents filed by a participant, other than documents 
required by rule 58 to be served by the responsible Secretary and 
documents referred to in subrule 38(2), rule 39, subrule 40(2)(a) and 
rule 41 shall be served by the participant on the counsel of record of 
each of the other participants or, where another participant is not 
represented by counsel, on the other participant.
    (2) Subject to subrule 34(a), a document may be served by
    (a) delivering a copy of the document to the service address of the 
participant;
    (b) sending a copy of the document to the service address of the 
participant by facsimile transmission or by expedited delivery courier 
or expedited mail service, such as express mail in the United States or 
Priority Post in Canada; or
    (c) personal service on the participant.
    (3) A proof of service shall appear on, or be affixed to, all 
documents referred to in subrule (1).
    (4) Where a document is served by expedited delivery courier or 
expedited mail service, the date of service set out in the affidavit of 
service or certificate of service shall be the day on which the 
document is consigned to the expedited delivery courier or expedited 
mail service.
    30. (1) Where, under these rules, a document containing proprietary 
information, privileged information or personal information is required 
to be filed under seal with the Secretariat or is required to be served 
under seal, the document shall be filed of served in accordance with 
this rule and, where applicable, in accordance with rule 32.
    (2) A document filed or served under seal shall be
    (a) bound separately from all other documents;
    (b) clearly marked
    (i) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada,
    (A) in the case of a document containing proprietary information, 
``Proprietary'', ``Confidential'', ``De nature exclusive'' or 
``Confidentiel'', and
    (B) in the case of a document containing privileged information, 
``Privileged'' or ``Protege'', and
    (C) in the case of a document containing personal information, 
``Personal Information'' or ``Renseignements personnels'',
    (ii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in Mexico,
    (A) in the case of a document containing proprietary information, 
``Confidencial'',
    (B) in the case of a document containing privileged information, 
``Privilegiada'', and
    (C) in the case of a document containing personal information, 
``Informacion Personal'', and
    (iii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in the Untied States,
    (A) in the case of a document containing proprietary information, 
``Proprietary'', and
    (B) in the case of a document containing privileged information, 
``Privileged'', and
    (C) in the case of a document containing personal information, 
``Personal Information''; and
    (c) contained in an opaque inner wrapper and an opaque outer 
wrapper.
    (3) An inner wrapper referred to in subrule (2)(c) shall indicate
    (a) that proprietary information, privileged information or 
personal information is enclosed, as the case may be; and
    (b) the Secretariat file number of the extraordinary challenge 
proceeding.
    31. Filing or service of proprietary information, privileged 
information or personal information with the Secretariat does not 
constitute a waiver of the designation of the information as 
proprietary information, privileged information or personal 
information.
    32. (1) Where a participant files a pleading that contains 
proprietary information, the participant shall file two sets of the 
pleading in the following manner:
    (a) one set containing the proprietary information shall be filed 
under seal and
    (i) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, shall be labelled 
``Proprietary'', ``Confidential'', ``Confidentiel'' or ``De nature 
exclusive'', with the top of each page that contains proprietary 
information marked with the word ``Proprietary'', ``Confidential'', 
``Confidentiel'' or ``De nature exclusive'' and with the proprietary 
information enclosed in brackets,
    (ii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in Mexico, shall be labelled 
``Confidencial'', with the top of each page that contains proprietary 
information marked with the word ``confidencial'' and with the 
proprietary information enclosed in brackets, and
    (iii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in the United States, shall be labelled 
``Proprietary'', with the top of each page that contains proprietary 
information marked with the word ``Proprietary'' and with the 
proprietary information enclosed in brackets; and
    (b) no later than one day following the day on which the set of 
pleadings referred to in subrule (a) is filed, another set not 
containing proprietary information shall be filed and
    (i) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, shall be labelled ``Non-
Proprietary'', ``Non-Confidential'', ``Non confidentiel'' or ``De 
nature non exclusive'',
    (ii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in Mexico, shall be labelled ``Non-
confidencial'', and
    (iii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in the United States, shall be labelled 
``Non-Proprietary'', with each page from which proprietary information 
has been deleted marked to indicate the location from which the 
proprietary information was deleted.
    (2) Where a participant files a pleading that contains privileged 
information, the participant shall file two sets of the pleading in the 
following manner:
    (a) one set containing the privileged information shall be filed 
under seal and
    (i) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, shall be labelled ``Privileged'' 
or ``Protege'', with the top of each that contains privileged 
information marked with the word ``Privileged'' or ``Protege'' and with 
the privileged information enclosed in brackets,
    (ii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in Mexico, shall be labelled 
``Privilegiada'', with the top of each page that contains privileged 
information marked with the word ``Privilegiada'' and with the 
privileged information enclosed in brackets, and
    (iii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in the United States, shall be labelled 
``Privileged'', with the top of each page that contains privileged 
information marked with the word ``Privileged'' and with the privileged 
information enclosed in brackets; and
    (b) no later than one day following the day on which the set of 
pleadings referred to in subrule (a) is filed, another set not 
containing privileged information shall be filed and
    (i) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, shall be labelled ``Non-
Privileged'' or ``Non-protege'',
    (ii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in Mexico, shall be labelled ``No-
privilegiada'', and
    (iii) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review 
of a final determination made in the United States, shall be labelled 
``Non-Privileged'', with each page from which privileged information 
has been deleted marked to indicate the location from which the 
privileged information was deleted.
    (3) Where a participant files a pleading that contains personal 
information, the pleading shall be filed under seal and
    (a) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Canada, shall be labelled ``Personal 
Information'' or ``Renseignements personnels'', with the top of each 
page that contains personal information marked with the words 
``Personal Information'' or ``Renseignements personnels'' and with the 
personal information enclosed in brackets;
    (b) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in Mexico, shall be labelled ``Informacion 
Personal'', with the top of each page that contains personal 
information marked with the words ``Informacion Personal'' and with the 
personal information enclosed in brackets; and
    (c) with respect to an extraordinary challenge of a panel review of 
a final determination made in the United States, shall be labelled 
``Personal Information'', with the top of each page that contains 
personal information marked with the words ``Personal Information'' and 
with the personal information enclosed in brackets.
    33. (1) Subject to subrule (2), a document containing proprietary 
or privileged information shall be filed under seal in accordance with 
rule 30 and shall be served only on the investigating authority and on 
those participants who have been granted access to the information 
under a Proprietary Information Access Order.
    (2) Where all proprietary information contained in a document was 
submitted to the investigating authority by one participant, the 
document shall be served on that participant even if that participant 
has not been granted access to proprietary information under a 
Proprietary Information Access Order.
    (3) A document containing personal information shall be filed under 
seal in accordance with rule 30 and shall be served only on persons or 
participants who have been granted access to the information under an 
order of the committee.
    34. Where proprietary information, privileged information or 
personal information is disclosed to a person in an extraordinary 
challenge proceeding, the person shall not
    (a) file, serve or otherwise communicate the information by 
facsimile transmission; or
    (b) communicate the information by telephone.
    35. Service on an investigating authority does not constitute 
service on a Party and service on a Party does not constitute service 
on an investigating authority.

Form and Content of Pleadings

    36. (1) Every pleading filed in an extraordinary challenge 
proceeding shall contain the following information:
    (a) the title of, and any Secretariat file number assigned for, the 
extraordinary challenge proceeding;
    (b) a brief descriptive title of the pleading;
    (c) the name of the participant filing the pleading;
    (d) the name of counsel of record for the participant;
    (e) the service address, as defined in rule 3; and
    (f) the telephone number of the counsel of record of the 
participant or, where the participant is not represented by counsel, 
the telephone number of the participant.
    (2) Every pleading filed in an extraordinary challenge proceeding 
shall be on paper 8\1/2\  x  11 inches (216 millimetres by 279 
millimetres) in size. The text of the pleading shall be printed, 
typewritten or reproduced legibly on one side only with a margin of 
approximately 1\1/2\ inches (40 millimetres) on the left-hand side with 
double spacing between each line of text, except for quotations of more 
than 50 words, which shall be indented and single-spaced. Footnotes, 
titles, schedules, tables, graphs and columns of figures shall be 
presented in a readable form. Briefs and appendices shall be securely 
bound along the left-hand margin.
    (3) Every pleading filed on behalf of a participant in an 
extraordinary challenge proceeding shall be signed by counsel for the 
participant or, where the participant is not represented by counsel, by 
the participant.

Requests for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee

    37. (1) Where a Party, in its discretion, files with the 
responsible Secretary a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge 
Committee referred to in Article 1904.13(a) (ii) or (iii) of the 
Agreement, the Party shall file the Request (model form available from 
the Secretariat) within 30 days after the issuance, pursuant to rule 77 
of the NAFTA Article 1904 Panel Rules, of the Notice of Final Panel 
Action in the panel review that is the subject of the Request.
    (2) Where a Party, in its discretion, files with the responsible 
Secretary a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee referred 
to in Article 1904.13(a)(i) of the Agreement, the Party shall file the 
Request (model form available from the Secretariat)
    (a) within 30 days after the issuance, pursuant to rule 77 of the 
NAFTA Article 1904 Panel Rules, of the Notice of Final Panel Action in 
the panel review that is the subject of the Request; or
    (b) subject to subrule (3), where the Party gained knowledge of the 
action of the panelist giving rise to the allegation more than 30 days 
after the panel issued a Notice of Final Panel Action, no more than 30 
days after gaining knowledge of the action of the panelist.
    (3) No Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee referred to 
in subrule (2) may be filed if two years or more have elapsed since the 
effective date of the Notice of Completion of Panel Review.
    (4) Notwithstanding subrules (1) to (3), the running of the time 
periods referred to in this section
    (a) shall be suspended in the circumstances set out in Article 
1905.11 of the Agreement; and
    (b) where suspended under subrule (a), shall be resumed in the 
circumstances set out in Articles 1905.12 and 1905.13 of the Agreement.
    38. (1) Subject to subrule (2), every Request for an Extraordinary 
Challenge Committee shall be in writing and shall
    (a) include a concise statement of the allegations relied on, 
together with a concise statement of how the actions alleged have 
materially affected the panel's decision and the way in which the 
integrity of the panel review process is threatened;
    (b) contain the name of the Party in the panel review, name of 
counsel, service address and telephone number; and
    (c) where the panel decision was made in Canada, state whether the 
Party filing the Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee
    (i) intends to use English or French in pleadings and oral 
proceedings before the committee, and
    (ii) requests simultaneous translation of any oral proceedings.
    (2) Where a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee 
contains an allegation referred to in Article 1904.13(a)(i) of the 
Agreement, the identity of the panelist against whom such an allegation 
is made shall be revealed only in a confidential annex filed together 
with the Request and shall be disclosed only in accordance with rule 
60.
    39. (1) Every Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee 
(model form available from the Secretariat) shall be accompanied by
    (a) those items of the record of the panel review relevant to the 
allegations contained in the Request; and
    (b) an Index of the items referred to in subrule (a).
    (2) Where a Request contains an allegation referred to in Article 
1904.13(a)(i) of the Agreement, the Request shall be accompanied by, in 
addition to the requirements of subrule (1),
    (a) any other material relevant to the allegations contained in the 
Request; and
    (b) if the Request is filed more than 30 days after the panel 
issued a Notice of Final Panel Action pursuant to rule 77 of the NAFTA 
Article 1904 Panel Rules, an affidavit certifying that the Party gained 
knowledge of the action of the panelist giving rise to the allegation 
no more than 30 days preceding the filing of the Request.

Notices of Appearance

    40. (1) Within 10 days after the Request for an Extraordinary 
Challenge Committee is filed, a Party or participant in the panel 
review who proposes to participate in the extraordinary challenge 
proceeding shall file with the responsible Secretariat a Notice of 
Appearance (model form available from the Secretariat) containing the 
following information:
    (a) the name of the Party or participant, name of counsel, service 
address and telephone number;
    (b) a statement as to whether appearance is made
    (i) in support of the Request, or
    (ii) in opposition to the Request; and
    (c) where the extraordinary challenge is in respect of a panel 
review of a final determination made in Canada, a statement as to 
whether the person filing the Notice of Appearance
    (i) intends to use English or French in pleadings and oral 
proceedings before the committee, and
    (ii) requests simultaneous translation of any oral proceedings.
    (2) Where a Party or participant referred to in subrule (1) 
proposes to rely on a document in the record of the panel review that 
is not specified in the Index filed with the Request for an 
Extraordinary Challenge Committee, the Party or participant shall file, 
with the Notice of Appearance,
    (a) the document; and
    (b) a statement identifying the document and requesting its 
inclusion in the extraordinary challenge record.
    (3) On receipt of a document referred to in subrule (2), the 
responsible Secretary shall include the document in the extraordinary 
challenge record.
    41. (1) Within 10 days after a Request for an Extraordinary 
Challenge Committee referred to in Article 1904.13(a)(i) of the 
Agreement is filed, a panelist against whom an allegation contained in 
the Request is made and who proposes to participate in the 
extraordinary challenge proceeding
    (a) shall file a Notice of Appearance;
    (b) may file, under seal, documents to be included in the 
extraordinary challenge record relevant to the panelist's defense 
against the allegation; and
    (c) may file an ex parte motion requesting that the extraordinary 
challenge proceeding be conducted in camera.
    (2) Where a committee issues an order pursuant to subrule 45(1)(a), 
a panelist who filed documents described in subrule (1)(b) may, within 
five days after issuance of the order, withdraw any of those documents.
    (3) Where a panelist withdraws documents pursuant to subrule (2), 
the committee shall not consider those documents.

Filing and Content of Briefs and Appendices

    42. (1) The Party who has filed the Request for an Extraordinary 
Challenge Committee and every participant who has filed a Notice of 
Appearance under subrule 40(1)(b)(i) shall file a brief, setting forth 
grounds and arguments in support of the Request, no later than 21 days 
after the Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee is filed.
    (2) Every participant who has filed a Notice of Appearance under 
subrule 40(1)(b)(ii) shall file a brief, setting forth grounds and 
arguments in opposition to the Request for an Extraordinary Challenge 
Committee, no later than 21 days after the expiration of the time 
period for filing of briefs referred to in subrule (1).
    (3) The Party who has filed the Request for an Extraordinary 
Challenge Committee and every participant who has filed a Notice of 
Appearance under subrule 40(1)(b)(i) may file a brief, replying to the 
grounds and arguments set forth in the briefs filed pursuant to subrule 
(2), no later than 10 days after the expiration of the time period for 
filing of briefs referred to in subrule (2). Reply briefs shall be 
limited to rebuttal of matters raised in the briefs filed pursuant to 
subrule (2).
    (4) Every brief filed under this rule shall be in the form required 
by rule 43.
    (5) Appendices shall be filed with the briefs.
    43. (1) Briefs shall contain information, in the following order, 
divided into five parts:
    Part I:
    (a) A table of contents; and
    (b) A table of authorities cited:
    The table of authorities shall contain references to all treaties, 
statutes and regulations cited, any cases primarily relied on in the 
briefs, set out alphabetically, and all other documents referred to 
except documents from the administrative record. The table of 
authorities shall refer to the page(s) of the brief where each 
authority is cited and mark, with an asterisk in the margin, those 
authorities primarily relied on.
    Part II: A statement of the case:
    This part shall contain a concise statement of the relevant facts 
with references to the panel record by page and, where applicable, by 
line.
    Part III: A statement of the issues:
    (a) In the brief of the Party who files the Request for an 
Extraordinary Challenge Committee, this part shall contain a concise 
statement of the issues.
    (b) In the brief of any other participant, this part shall contain 
a concise statement of the position of the participant with respect to 
the issues.
    Part IV: Argument:
    This part shall consist of the argument, setting out concisely the 
points of law relating to the issues, with applicable citations to 
authorities and the panel record.
    Part V: Relief:
    This part shall consist of a concise statement precisely 
identifying the relief requested.
    (2) Paragraphs in Parts I to V of a brief may be numbered 
consecutively.
    (3) Authorities referred to in the briefs shall be included in an 
appendix, which shall be organized as follows: a table of contents, 
copies of all treaty and statutory references, references to 
regulations, cases primarily relied on in the briefs, set out 
alphabetically, all documents relied on from the panel record and all 
other materials relied on.

Motions

    44. (1) Motions, other than motions referred to in subrule 
41(1)(c), may be considered at the discretion of the committee.
    (2) A committee may dispose of a motion based upon the pleadings 
filed on the motion.
    (3) A committee may hear oral argument in person or, subject to 
subrule 34(b), direct that a motion be heard by means of a telephone 
conference call with the participants.

Part III--Conduct of Oral Proceedings

    45. (1) The order of a committee on a motion referred to in subrule 
41(1)(c) shall set out
    (a) that the proceedings shall not be held in camera; or
    (b) that the proceedings shall be held in camera and
    (i) that all the participants shall keep confidential all 
information received with respect to the extraordinary challenge 
proceeding and shall use the information solely for the purposes of the 
proceeding, and
    (ii) which documents containing personal information the 
responsible Secretary shall serve under seal and on whom the documents 
shall be served.
    (2) The responsible Secretary shall not serve any documents 
containing personal information until the time period for withdrawal of 
any documents pursuant to subrule 41(2) has expired.
    46. A committee may decide the procedures to be followed in the 
extraordinary challenge proceeding and may, for that purpose, hold a 
pre-hearing conference to determine such matters as the presentation of 
evidence and of oral argument.
    47. The decision as to whether oral argument will be heard shall be 
in the discretion of the committee.

Oral Proceedings in Camera

    48. During that part of oral proceedings in which proprietary 
information or privileged information is presented, a committee shall 
not permit any person other than the following persons to be present:
    (a) the person presenting the proprietary information or privileged 
information;
    (b) a person who has been granted access to the proprietary 
information or privileged information under a Proprietary Information 
Access Order or an order of the panel or committee;
    (c) in the case of privileged information, a person as to whom the 
confidentiality of the privileged information has been waived; and
    (d) officials of, and counsel for, the investigating authority.

Part IV--Responsibilities of the Secretary

    49. The normal business hours of the Secretariat, during which the 
offices of the Secretariat shall be open to the public, shall be from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. on each weekday other than
    (a) in the case of the Canadian Section of the Secretariat, legal 
holidays of that Section;
    (b) in the case of the Mexican Section of the Secretariat, legal 
holidays of that Section; and
    (c) in the case of the United States Section of the Secretariat, 
legal holidays of that Section.
    50. On the completion of the selection of the members of a 
committee, the responsible Secretary shall notify the participants and 
the other involved Secretary of the names of the members of the 
committee.
    51. The responsible Secretary shall provide administrative support 
for each extraordinary challenge proceeding and shall make the 
arrangements necessary for meetings and any oral proceedings, 
including, if required, interpreters to provide simultaneous 
translation.
    52. Each involved Secretary shall maintain a file for each 
extraordinary challenge, comprised of either the original or a copy of 
all documents filed, whether or not filed in accordance with these 
rules.
    53. The responsible Secretary shall forward to the other involved 
Secretary a copy of all documents filed with the responsible Secretary 
and of all orders and decisions issued by a committee.
    54. Where under these rules a notice or other document is required 
to be published, the responsible Secretary and the other involved 
Secretary shall each cause the document to be published in the official 
publication of the country in which that section of the Secretariat is 
located.
    55. (1) Where a document containing proprietary information or 
privileged information is filed with the involved Secretariats, each 
involved Secretary shall ensure that
    (a) the document is stored, maintained, handled, and distributed in 
accordance with the terms of an applicable Proprietary Information 
Access Order;
    (b) the inner wrapper of the document is clearly marked to indicate 
that it contains proprietary information or privileged information; and
    (c) access to the document is limited to
    (i) in the case of proprietary information, officials of, and 
counsel for, the investigating authority, the person who submitted the 
proprietary information to the investigating authority and counsel of 
record for that person, and any persons who have been granted access to 
the information under a Proprietary Information Access Order, and
    (ii) in the case of privileged information relied upon in an 
extraordinary challenge of a decision of a panel with respect to a 
final determination made in the United States, committee members and 
their assistants and persons with respect to whom the panel ordered 
disclosure of the privileged information under rule 52 of the NAFTA 
Article 1904 Panel Rules, if those persons have filed with the 
responsible Secretariat a Proprietary Information Access Order with 
respect to the document.
    (2) Where a document containing personal information is filed with 
the involved Secretariats, each involved Secretary shall ensure that
    (a) the document is stored, maintained, handled, and distributed in 
accordance with the terms of any applicable Proprietary Information 
Access Order;
    (b) the inner wrapper of the document is clearly marked to indicate 
that it contains personal information; and
    (c) access to the document is limited to persons granted access to 
the information pursuant to subrule 45(1)(b).
    56. No document filed in an extraordinary challenge proceeding 
shall be removed from the offices of the Secretariat except in the 
ordinary course of the business of the Secretariat or pursuant to the 
direction of a committee.
    57. (1) Each involved Secretary shall permit access by any person 
to information in the file of an extraordinary challenge proceeding 
that is not proprietary information, privileged information or personal 
information.
    (2) Each involved Secretary shall, in accordance with the terms of 
any applicable Proprietary Information Access Order or order of a panel 
or committee, permit access to proprietary information, privileged 
information or personal information in the file of an extraordinary 
challenge proceeding.
    (3) Each involved Secretary shall, on request and on payment of the 
prescribed fee, provide copies of information in the file of an 
extraordinary challenge proceeding to any person who has been given 
access to that information.
    58. (1) Where a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee 
pursuant to Article 1904.13(a) (ii) or (iii) of the Agreement is filed 
with the responsible Secretariat, the responsible Secretary shall, upon 
receipt thereof,
    (a) forward a copy of the Request and Index to the other involved 
Secretary; and
    (b) serve a copy of the Request and Index on the other involved 
Party and on the participants in the panel review, together with a 
statement setting out the date on which the Request was filed and 
stating that all briefs of
    (i) the Party who has filed the Request and of every participant 
who files a Notice of Appearance in support of the Request shall be 
filed no later than 21 days after the date of filing of the Request,
    (ii) every participant who files a Notice of Appearance in 
opposition to the Request shall be filed no later than 21 days after 
the expiration of the time period, referred to in subrule (i), for 
filing of briefs, and
    (iii) the Party who has filed the Request and of every participant 
who files a brief under subrule (i) in reply to the grounds and 
arguments set forth in the briefs filed pursuant to subrule (ii) shall 
be filed no later than 10 days after the expiration of the time period, 
referred to in subrule (ii), for filing of briefs.
    (2) Where a Request for an Extraordinary Challenge Committee 
pursuant to Article 1904.13(a)(i) of the Agreement is filed, the 
responsible Secretary shall, upon receipt thereof,
    (a) forward a copy of the Request, Index and annex to the other 
involved Secretary; and
    (b) serve a copy of the Request, Index and annex on the other 
involved Party, on the panelist against whom the allegation contained 
in the Request is made and on the participants in the panel review, 
together with a statement setting out the date on which the Request was 
filed and stating that all briefs of
    (i) the Party who has filed the Request and of every participant 
who files a Notice of Appearance in support of the Request shall be 
filed no later than 21 days after the date of filing of the Request,
    (ii) every participant who files a Notice of Appearance in 
opposition to the Request shall be filed no later than 21 days after 
the expiration of the time period, referred to in subrule (i), for 
filing of briefs, and
    (iii) the Party who has filed the Request and of every participant 
who files a brief under subrule (i) in reply to the grounds and 
arguments set forth in the briefs filed pursuant to subrule (ii) shall 
be filed no later than 10 days after the expiration of the time period, 
referred to in subrule (ii), for filing of briefs.
    (3) The responsible Secretary shall serve orders and decisions of a 
committee and Notices of Completion of Extraordinary Challenge on the 
participants.
    (4) Where the decision of a committee referred to in subrule (3) 
relates to a panel review of a final determination made in Canada, the 
decision shall be served by registered mail.
    59. The responsible Secretary shall cause notice of a final 
decision of a committee issued pursuant to rule 63, and any order that 
the committee directs the Secretary to publish, to be published in the 
official publications of the involved Parties.
    60. Where the time period fixed, pursuant to rule 41, for filing an 
ex parte motion referred to in subrule 41(1)(c) has expired, the 
responsible Secretary shall serve on all participants
    (a) where no motion is filed pursuant to that subrule, the 
documents referred to in rules 39 and 41;
    (b) where the committee issues an order referred to in subrule 
45(1)(a), the documents referred to in rules 39 and 41 in accordance 
with any order of the committee; and
    (c) where the committee issues an order referred to in subrule 
45(1)(b), the documents referred to in rules 39 and 41, in accordance 
with subrule 45(1)(b)(ii) and any order made by the committee.

Part V--Orders and Decisions

    61. All orders and decisions of a committee shall be made by a 
majority of the votes of all members of the committee.
    62. (1) Where a Notice of Motion requesting dismissal of an 
extraordinary challenge proceeding is filed by a participant, the 
committee may issue an order dismissing the proceeding.
    (2) Where the motion referred to in subrule (1) is consented to by 
all the participants and an affidavit to that effect is filed, or where 
all participants file Notices of Motion requesting dismissal, the 
extraordinary challenge proceeding is terminated.
    63. (1) A final decision of a committee shall
    (a) affirm the decision of the panel;
    (b) vacate the decision of the panel; or
    (c) remand the decision of the panel to the panel for action not 
inconsistent with the final decision of the committee.
    (2) Every final decision of a committee shall be issued in writing 
with reasons, together with any dissenting or concurring opinions of 
the members of the committee.
    (3) Subrule (2) shall not be construed as prohibiting the oral 
delivery of the decision of a committee.

Part VI--Completion of Extraordinary Challenges

    64. Where all participants consent to the termination of the 
proceeding pursuant to rule 62, the responsible Secretary shall cause 
to be published in the official publications of the involved Parties a 
Notice of Completion of Extraordinary Challenge, effective on the day 
after the day on which the requirements of rule 62 have been met.
    65. Where a committee issues its final decision, the responsible 
Secretary shall cause to be published in the official publications of 
the involved Parties a Notice of Completion of Extraordinary Challenge, 
effective on the day after the day on which
    (a) the committee affirms the decision of the panel;
    (b) the committee vacates the decision of the panel; or
    (c) where the committee remands the decision of the panel, the day 
the responsible Secretary gives notice to the committee that the panel 
has given notice that it has taken action not inconsistent with the 
committee's decision.
    66. The members of the committee are discharged from their duties 
on the day on which a Notice of Completion of Extraordinary Challenge 
is effective.
    67. (1) A Party may make a request, pursuant to Article 
1905.11(a)(ii) of the Agreement, that an ongoing extraordinary 
challenge proceeding be stayed by filing the request with the 
responsible Secretariat.
    (2) A Party who files a request under subrule (1) shall forthwith 
give written notice of the request to the other involved Party and to 
the other involved Secretariat.
    (3) On receipt of a request under subrule (1), the responsible 
Secretary shall
    (a) immediately give written notice of the stay of the 
extraordinary challenge proceedings to all participants in the 
extraordinary challenge proceedings; and
    (b) publish a notice of the stay of the extraordinary challenge 
proceedings in the official publications of the involved Parties.
    68. On receipt of a report containing an affirmative finding with 
respect to a ground specified in Article 1905.1 of the Agreement, the 
responsible Secretary for extraordinary challenge proceedings referred 
to in Article 1905.11(a)(i) of the Agreement shall
    (a) immediately give notice in writing to all participants in those 
proceedings; and
    (b) publish a notice of the affirmative finding in the official 
publications of the involved Parties.
    69. (1) A Party who intends to suspend the operation of Article 
1904 of the Agreement pursuant to Article 1905.8 or 1905.9 of the 
Agreement shall endeavour to give written notice of that intention to 
the other involved Party and to the involved Secretaries at least five 
days prior to the suspension.
    (2) On receipt of a notice under subrule (1), the involved 
Secretaries shall publish a notice of the suspension in the official 
publications of the involved Parties.

    Dated: February 10, 1994.
Timothy J. Hauser,
Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade.
[FR Doc. 94-3929 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-GT-P