North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (1992)
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(d) enhancing cooperation on the development, application and enforcement of standards-related measures; and

(e) considering non-governmental, regional and multilateral developments regarding standards-related measures, including under the GATT.

3. The Committee shall:

(a) meet on request of any Party and, unless the Parties otherwise agree, at least once each year; and

(b) report annually to the Commission on the implementation of this Chapter.

4. The Committee may, as it considers appropriate, establish and determine the scope and mandate of subcommittees or working groups, comprising representatives of each Party. Each subcommittee or working group may:

(a) as it considers necessary or desirable, include or consult with

(i) representatives of non-governmental bodies, including standardizing bodies, Gi) scientists, and

(ii) technical experts; and

(b) determine its work program, taking into account relevant international activities.

5. Further to paragraph 4, the Committee shall establish:

(a) the following subcommittees

(i) Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-1,

(ii) Telecommunications Standards Subcommittee, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-2,

(iii) Automotive Standards Council, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-3, and

(iv) Subcommittee on Labelling of Textile and Apparel Goods, in accordance with Annex 913.5.a-4; and

(b) such other subcommittees or working groups as it considers appropriate to address any topic, including:

(i) identification and nomenclature for goods subject to standards- related measures,

(ii) quality and identity standards and technical regulations,

(iii) packaging, labelling and presentation of consumer information, including languages, measurement systems, ingredients, sizes, terminology, symbols and related matters,

(iv) product approval and post-market surveillance programs,

(v) principles for the accreditation and recognition of conformity assessment bodies, procedures and systems,

(vi) development and implementation of a uniform chemical hazard classification and communication system,

(vii) enforcement programs, including training and inspections by regulatory, analytical and enforcement personnel,

(viii) promotion and implementation of good laboratory practices,

(ix) promotion and implementation of good manufacturing practices,

(x) criteria for assessment of potential environmental hazards of goods,

(xi) methodologies for assessment of risk,

(xii) guidelines for testing of chemicals, including industrial and agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and biologicals,

(xiii) methods by which consumer protection, including matters relating to consumer redress, can be facilitated, and

(xiv) extension of the application of this Chapter to other services.

6. Each Party shall, on request of another Party, take such reasonable measures as may be available to it to provide for the participation in the activities of the Committee, where and as appropriate, of representatives of state or provincial governments.

7. A Party requesting technical advice, information or assistance pursuant to Article 911 shall notify the Committee which shall facilitate any such request.

Article 914. Technical Consultations

1. Where a Party requests consultations regarding the application of this Chapter to a standards-related measure, and so notifies the Committee, the Committee may facilitate the consultations, if it does not consider the matter itself, by referring the matter for non-binding technical advice or recommendations to a subcommittee or working group, including an ad hoc subcommittee or working group, or to another forum.

2. The Committee should consider any matter referred to it under paragraph 1 as expeditiously as possible and promptly forward to the Parties any technical advice or recommendations that it develops or receives concerning the matter. The Parties involved shall provide a written response to the Committee concerning the technical advice or recommendations within such time as the Committee may request.

3. Where the involved Parties have had recourse to consultations facilitated by the Committee under paragraph 1, the consultations shall, on the agreement of the Parties involved, constitute consultations under Article 2006 (Consultations).

4. The Parties confirm that a Party asserting that a standards-related measure of another Party is inconsistent with this Chapter shall have the burden of establishing the inconsistency.

Article 915. Definitions

1. For purposes of this Chapter:

approval procedure means any registration, notification or other mandatory administrative procedure for granting permission for a good or service to be produced, marketed or used for a stated purpose or under stated conditions;

assessment of risk means evaluation of the potential for adverse effects;

conformity assessment procedure means any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that a technical regulation or standard is fulfilled, including sampling, testing, inspection, evaluation, verification, monitoring, auditing, assurance of conformity, accreditation, registration or approval used for such a purpose, but does not mean an approval procedure;

international standard means a standards-related measure, or other guide or recommendation, adopted by an international standardizing body and made available to the public;

international standardizing body means a standardizing body whose membership is open to the relevant bodies of at least all the parties to the GATT Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAQ), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); or any other body that the Parties designate;

land transportation service means a transportation service provided by means of motor carrier or rail;

legitimate objective includes an objective such as:

(a) safety,

(b) protection of human, animal or plant life or health, the environment or consumers, including matters relating to quality and identifiability of goods or services, and

(c) sustainable development,

considering, among other things, where appropriate, fundamental climatic or other geographical factors, technological or infrastructural factors, or scientific justification but does not include the protection of domestic production;

make compatible means bring different standards-related measures of the same scope approved by different standardizing bodies to a level such that they are either identical, equivalent or have the effect of permitting goods or services to be used in place of one another or fulfill the same purpose;

services means land transportation services and telecommunications services;

standard means a document, approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for goods or related processes and production methods, or for services or related operating methods, with which compliance is not mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a good, process, or production or operating method;

standardizing body means a body having recognized activities in standardization;

standards-related measure means a standard, technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure;

technical regulation means a document which lays down goods characteristics or their related processes and production methods, or services characteristics or their related operating methods, including the applicable administrative provisions, with which compliance is mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a good, process, or production or operating method; and

telecommunications service means a service provided by means of the transmission and reception of signals by any electromagnetic means, but does not mean the cable, broadcast or other electromagnetic distribution of radio or television programming to the public generally.

2. Except as they are otherwise defined in this Agreement, other terms in this Chapter shall be interpreted in accordance with their ordinary meaning in context and in the light of the objectives of this Agreement, and where appropriate by reference to the terms presented in the sixth edition of the ISO/IEC Guide 2: 1991, General Terms and Their Definitions Concerning Standardization and Related Activities.

Part Four. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

Chapter Ten. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

Section A. Scope and Coverage and National Treatment

Article 1001. Scope and Coverage

1. This Chapter applies to measures adopted or maintained by a Party relating to procurement:

(a) by a federal government entity set out in Annex 1001.1a-1, a government enterprise set out in Annex 1001.1a-2, or a state or provincial government entity set out in Annex 1001.1a-3 in accordance with Article 1024;

(b) of goods in accordance with Annex 1001.1b-1, services in accordance with Annex 1001.1b-2, or construction services in accordance with Annex 1001.1b-3; and

(c) where the value of the contract to be awarded is estimated to be equal to or greater than a threshold, calculated and adjusted according to the U.S. inflation rate as set out in Annex 1001.1c, of

(i) for federal government entities, US$50,000 for contracts for goods, services or any combination thereof, and US$6.5 million for contracts for construction services,

(ii) for government enterprises, US$250,000 for contracts for goods, services or any combination thereof, and US$8.0 million for contracts for construction services, and

(iii) for state and provincial government entities, the applicable threshold, as set out in Annex 1001.1a-3 in accordance with Article 1024.

2. Paragraph 1 is subject to:

(a) the transitional provisions set out in Annex 1001.2a;

(b) the General Notes set out in Annex 1001.2b; and

(c) Annex 1001.2c, for the Parties specified therein.

3. Subject to paragraph 4, where a contract to be awarded by an entity is not covered by this Chapter, this Chapter shall not be construed to cover any good or service component of that contract.

4. No Party may prepare, design or otherwise structure any procurement contract in order to avoid the obligations of this Chapter.

5. Procurement includes procurement by such methods as purchase, lease or rental, with or without an option to buy. Procurement does not include:

(a) non-contractual agreements or any form of government assistance, including cooperative agreements, grants, loans, equity infusions, guarantees, fiscal incentives, and government provision of goods and services to persons or state, provincial and regional governments; and

(b) the acquisition of fiscal agency or depository services, liquidation and management services for regulated financial institutions and sale and distribution services for government debt.

Article 1002. Valuation of Contracts

1. Each Party shall ensure that its entities, in determining whether a contract is covered by this Chapter, apply paragraphs 2 through 7 in calculating the value of that contract.

2. The value of a contract shall be estimated as at the time of publication of a notice in accordance with Article 1010.

3. In calculating the value of a contract, an entity shall take into account all forms of remuneration, including premiums, fees, commissions and interest.

4. Further to Article 1001(4), an entity may not select a valuation method, or divide procurement requirements into separate contracts, to avoid the obligations of this Chapter.

5. Where an individual requirement for a procurement results in the award of more than one contract, or in contracts being awarded in separate parts, the basis for valuation shall be either:

(a) the actual value of similar recurring contracts concluded over the prior fiscal year or 12 months adjusted, where possible, for anticipated changes in quantity and value over the subsequent 12 months; or

(b) the estimated value of recurring contracts in the fiscal year or 12 months subsequent to the initial contract.

6. Tn the case of a contract for lease or rental, with or without an option to buy, or in the case of a contract that does not specify a total price, the basis for valuation shall be:

(a) in the case of a fixed-term contract, where the term is 12 months or less, the total contract value, for its duration or, where the term exceeds 12 months, the total contract value, including the estimated residual value; or

(b) in the case of a contract for an indefinite period, the estimated monthly installment multiplied by 48.

If the entity is uncertain as to whether a contract is for a fixed or an indefinite term, the entity shall calculate the value of the contract using the method set out in subparagraph (b).

7. Where tender documentation requires option clauses, the basis for valuation shall be the total value of the maximum permissible procurement, including all possible optional purchases.

Article 1003. National Treatment and Non-Discrimination

1. With respect to measures covered by this Chapter, each Party shall accord to goods of another Party, to the suppliers of such goods and to service suppliers of another Party, treatment no less favorable than the most favorable treatment that the Party accords to:

(a) its own goods and suppliers; and

(b) goods and suppliers of another Party.

2. With respect to measures covered by this Chapter, no Party may:

(a) treat a locally established supplier less favorably than another locally established supplier on the basis of degree of foreign affiliation or ownership; or

(b) discriminate against a locally established supplier on the basis that the goods or services offered by that supplier for the particular procurement are goods or services of another Party.

3. Paragraph 1 does not apply to measures respecting customs duties or other charges of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation, the method of levying such duties or charges or other import regulations, including restrictions and formalities.

Article 1004. Rules of Origin

No Party may apply rules of origin to goods imported from another Party for purposes of government procurement covered by this Chapter that are different from or inconsistent with the rules of origin the Party applies in the normal course of trade, which may be the Marking Rules established under Annex 311 if they become the rules of origin applied by that Party in the normal course of its trade.

Article 1005. Denial of Benefits

1. Subject to prior notification and consultation in accordance with Articles 1803 (Notification and Provision of Information) and 2006 (Consultations), a Party may deny the benefits of this Chapter to a service supplier of another Party where the Party establishes that the service is being provided by an enterprise that is owned or controlled by persons of a non- Party and that has no substantial business activities in the territory of any Party.

2. A Party may deny to an enterprise of another Party the benefits of this Chapter if nationals of a non-Party own or control the enterprise and:

(a) the circumstance set out in Article 1113(1)(a) (Denial of Benefits) is met; or

(b) the denying Party adopts or maintains measures with respect to the non-Party that prohibit transactions with the enterprise or that would be violated or circumvented if the benefits of this Chapter were accorded to the enterprise.

Article 1006. Prohibition of Offsets

Each Party shall ensure that its entities do not, in the qualification and selection of suppliers, goods or services, in the evaluation of bids or the award of contracts, consider, seek or impose offsets. For purposes of this Article, offsets means conditions imposed or considered by an entity prior to or in the course of its procurement process that encourage local development or improve its Party's balance of payments accounts, by means of requirements of local content, licensing of technology, investment, counter-trade or similar requirements.

Article 1007. Technical Specifications

1. Each Party shall ensure that its entities do not prepare, adopt or apply any technical specification with the purpose or the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to trade.

2. Each Party shall ensure that any technical specification prescribed by its entities is, where appropriate:

(a) specified in terms of performance criteria rather than design or descriptive characteristics; and

(b) based on international standards, national technical regulations, recognized national standards, or building codes.

3. Each Party shall ensure that the technical specifications prescribed by its entities do not require or refer to a particular trademark or name, patent, design or type, specific origin or producer or supplier unless there is no sufficiently precise or intelligible way of otherwise describing the procurement requirements and provided that, in such cases, words such as "or equivalent" are included in the tender documentation.

4. Each Party shall ensure that its entities do not seek or accept, in a manner that would have the effect of precluding competition, advice that may be used in the preparation or adoption of any technical specification for a specific procurement from a person that may have a commercial interest in that procurement.

Section B. Tendering Procedures

Article 1008. Tendering Procedures

1. Each Party shall ensure that the tendering procedures of its entities are:

(a) applied in a non-discriminatory manner; and

(b) consistent with this Article and Articles 1009 through 1016.

2. Tn this regard, each Party shall ensure that its entities:

(a) do not provide to any supplier information with regard to a specific procurement in a manner that would have the effect of precluding competition; and

(b) provide all suppliers equal access to information with respect to a procurement during the period prior to the issuance of any notice or tender documentation.

Article 1009. Qualification of Suppliers

1. Further to Article 1003, no entity of a Party may, in the process of qualifying suppliers in a tendering procedure, discriminate between suppliers of the other Parties or between domestic suppliers and suppliers of the other Parties.

2. The qualification procedures followed by an entity shall be consistent with the following:

(a) conditions for participation by suppliers in tendering procedures shall be published sufficiently in advance so as to provide the suppliers adequate time to initiate and, to the extent that it is compatible with efficient operation of the procurement process, to complete the qualification procedures;

(b) conditions for participation by suppliers in tendering procedures, including financial guarantees, technical qualifications and information necessary for establishing the financial, commercial and technical capacity of suppliers, as well as the verification of whether a supplier meets those conditions, shall be limited to those that are essential to ensure the fulfillment of the contract in question;

(c) the financial, commercial and technical capacity of a supplier shall be judged both on the basis of that supplier's global business activity, including its activity in the territory of the Party of the supplier, and its activity, if any, in the territory of the Party of the procuring entity;

(d) an entity shall not misuse the process of, including the time required for, qualification in order to exclude suppliers of another Party from a suppliers' list or from being considered for a particular procurement;

(e) an entity shall recognize as qualified suppliers those suppliers of another Party that meet the conditions for participation in a particular procurement;

(f) an entity shall consider for a particular procurement those suppliers of another Party that request to participate in the procurement and that are not yet qualified, provided there is sufficient time to complete the qualification procedure;

(g) an entity that maintains a permanent list of qualified suppliers shall ensure that suppliers may apply for qualification at any time, that all qualified suppliers so requesting are included in the list within a reasonably short period of time and that all qualified suppliers included in the list are notified of the termination of the list or of their removal from it;

(h) where, after publication of a notice in accordance with Article 1010, a supplier that is not yet qualified requests to participate in a particular procurement, the entity shall promptly start the qualification procedure;

(i) an entity shall advise any supplier that requests to become a qualified supplier of its decision as to whether that supplier has become qualified; and

(j) where an entity rejects a supplier's application to qualify or ceases to recognize a supplier as qualified, the entity shall, on request of the supplier, promptly provide pertinent information concerning the entity's reasons for doing so.

3. Each Party shall:

(a) ensure that each of its entities uses a single qualification procedure, except that an entity may use additional qualification procedures where the entity determines the need for a different procedure and is prepared, on request of another Party, to demonstrate that need; and

(b) endeavor to minimize differences in the qualification procedures of its entities.

4. Nothing in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall prevent an entity from excluding a supplier on grounds such as bankruptcy or false declarations.

Article 1010. Invitation to Participate

1. Except as otherwise provided in Article 1016, an entity shall publish an invitation to participate for all procurements in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 5, in the appropriate publication referred to in Annex 1010.1.

2. The invitation to participate shall take the form of a notice of proposed procurement that shall contain the following information:

(a) a description of the nature and quantity of the goods or services to be procured, including any options for further procurement and, if possible,

(i) an estimate of when such options may be exercised, and

(ii) in the case of recurring contracts, an estimate of when the subsequent notices will be issued;

(b) a statement as to whether the procedure is open or selective and whether it will involve negotiation;

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, an entity listed in Annex 1001.1a-2 or 1001.1a-3 may use as an invitation to participate a notice of planned procurement that shall contain as much of the information referred to in paragraph 2 as is available to the entity, but that shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

(a) a description of the subject matter of the procurement;

  • Part   One GENERAL PART 1
  • Chapter   One OBJECTIVES 1
  • Article   101 Establishment of the Free Trade Area 1
  • Article   102 Objectives 1
  • Article   103 Relation to other Agreements 1
  • Article   104 Relation to Environmental and Conservation Agreements 1
  • Article   105 Extent of Obligations 1
  • Annex 104.1  Bilateral and Other Environmental and Conservation Agreements 1
  • Chapter   Two GENERAL DEFINITIONS 1
  • Article   201 Definitions of General Application 1
  • Annex 201.1  Country-Specific Definitions 1
  • Part   Two TRADE IN GOODS 1
  • Chapter   Three NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS FOR GOODS 1
  • Article   300 Scope and Coverage 1
  • Section   A National Treatment 1
  • Article   301 National Treatment 1
  • Section   B Tariffs 1
  • Article   302 Tariff Elimination 1
  • Article   303 Restriction on Drawback and Duty Deferral Programs 1
  • Article   304 Waiver of Customs Duties 1
  • Article   305 Temporary Admission of Goods 1
  • Article   306 Duty-Free Entry of Certain Commercial Samples and Printed Advertising Materials 2
  • Article   307 Goods Re-Entered after Repair or Alteration 2
  • Article   308 Most-Favored-Nation Rates of Duty on Certain Goods 2
  • Section   C Non-Tariff Measures 2
  • Article   309 Import and Export Restrictions 2
  • Article   310 Customs User Fees 2
  • Article   311 Country of Origin Marking 2
  • Article   312 Wine and Distilled Spirits 2
  • Article   313 Distinctive Products 2
  • Article   314 Export Taxes 2
  • Article   315 Other Export Measures 2
  • Section   D Consultations 2
  • Article   316 Consultations and Committee on Trade In Goods 2
  • Article   317 Third Country Dumping 2
  • Section   E Definitions 2
  • Article   318 Definitions 2
  • Chapter   Four RULES OF ORIGIN 2
  • Article   401 Originating Goods 2
  • Article   402 Regional Value Content 2
  • Article   403 Automotive Goods 3
  • Article   404 Accumulation 3
  • Article   405 De Minimis 3
  • Article   406 Fungible Goods and Materials for Purposes of Determining Whether a Good Is an Originating Good: 3
  • Article   407 Accessories, Spare Parts and Tools 3
  • Article   408 Indirect Materials 3
  • Article   409 Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale 3
  • Article   410 Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment 3
  • Article   411 Trans-shipment 3
  • Article   412 Non-Qualifying Operations 3
  • Article   413 Interpretation and Application 3
  • Article   414 Consultation and Modifications 3
  • Article   415 Definitions 3
  • Chapter   Five CUSTOMS PROCEDURES 4
  • Section   A Certification of Origin 4
  • Article   501 Certificate of Origin 4
  • Article   502 Obligations Regarding Importations 4
  • Article   503 Exceptions 4
  • Article   504 Obligations Regarding Exportations 4
  • Section   B Administration and Enforcement 4
  • Article   505 Records 4
  • Article   506 Origin Verifications 4
  • Article   507 Confidentiality 4
  • Article   508 Penalties 4
  • Section   C Advance Rulings 4
  • Article   509 Advance Rulings 4
  • Section   D Review and Appeal of Origin Determinations and Advance Rulings 5
  • Article   510 Review and Appeal 5
  • Section   E Uniform Regulations 5
  • Article   511 Uniform Regulations 5
  • Section   F Cooperation 5
  • Article   512 Cooperation 5
  • Article   513 Working Group and Customs Subgroup 5
  • Article   514 Definitions 5
  • Chapter   Six ENERGY AND BASIC PETROCHEMICALS 5
  • Article   601 Principles 5
  • Article   602 Scope and Coverage 5
  • Article   603 Import and Export Restrictions 5
  • Article   604 Export Taxes 5
  • Article   605 Other Export Measures 5
  • Article   606 Energy Regulatory Measures 5
  • Article   607 National Security Measures 5
  • Article   608 Miscellaneous Provisions 5
  • Article   609 Definitions 5
  • Annex 602.3  Reservations and Special Provisions 6
  • Chapter   Seven AGRICULTURE AND SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 6
  • Section   A Agriculture 6
  • Article   701 Scope and Coverage 6
  • Article   702 International Obligations 6
  • Article   703 Market Access 6
  • Article   704 Domestic Support 6
  • Article   705 Export Subsidies 6
  • Article   706 Committee on Agricultural Trade 6
  • Article   707 Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes Regarding Agricultural Goods 6
  • Article   708 Definitions 6
  • Section   B Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 6
  • Article   709 Scope and Coverage 6
  • Article   710 Relation to other Chapters 6
  • Article   711 Reliance on Non-Governmental Entities 6
  • Article   712 Basic Rights and Obligations 6
  • Article   713 International Standards and Standardizing Organizations 6
  • Article   714 Equivalence 6
  • Article   715 Risk Assessment and Appropriate Level of Protection 6
  • Article   716 Adaptation to Regional Conditions 7
  • Article   717 Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures 7
  • Article   718 Notification, Publication and Provision of Information 7
  • Article   719 Inquiry Points 7
  • Article   720 Technical Cooperation 7
  • Article   721 Limitations on the Provision of Information 7
  • Article   722 Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 7
  • Article   723 Technical Consultations 7
  • Article   724 Definitions 7
  • Chapter   Eight EMERGENCY ACTION 7
  • Article   801 Bilateral Actions 7
  • Article   802 Global Actions 8
  • Article   803 Administration of Emergency Action Proceedings 8
  • Article   804 Dispute Settlement In Emergency Action Matters 8
  • Article   805 Definitions for Purposes of this Chapter: 8
  • Part   Three TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 8
  • Chapter   Nine STANDARDS-RELATED MEASURES 8
  • Article   901 Scope and Coverage 8
  • Article   902 Extent of Obligations 8
  • Article   903 Affirmation of Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and other Agreements 8
  • Article   904 Basic Rights and Obligations Right to Take Standards-Related Measures 8
  • Article   905 Use of International Standards 8
  • Article   906 Compatibility and Equivalence 8
  • Article   907 Assessment of Risk 8
  • Article   908 Conformity Assessment 8
  • Article   909 Notification, Publication, and Provision of Information 8
  • Article   910 Inquiry Points 8
  • Article   911 Technical Cooperation 8
  • Article   912 Limitations on the Provision of Information 8
  • Article   913 Committee on Standards-Related Measures 8
  • Article   914 Technical Consultations 9
  • Article   915 Definitions 9
  • Part   Four GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 9
  • Chapter   Ten GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 9
  • Section   A Scope and Coverage and National Treatment 9
  • Article   1001 Scope and Coverage 9
  • Article   1002 Valuation of Contracts 9
  • Article   1003 National Treatment and Non-Discrimination 9
  • Article   1004 Rules of Origin 9
  • Article   1005 Denial of Benefits 9
  • Article   1006 Prohibition of Offsets 9
  • Article   1007 Technical Specifications 9
  • Section   B Tendering Procedures 9
  • Article   1008 Tendering Procedures 9
  • Article   1009 Qualification of Suppliers 9
  • Article   1010 Invitation to Participate 9
  • Article   1011 Selective Tendering Procedures 10
  • Article   1012 Time Limits for Tendering and Delivery 10
  • Article   1013 Tender Documentation 10
  • Article   1014 Negotiation Disciplines 10
  • Article   1015 Submission, Receipt and Opening of Tenders and Awarding of Contracts 10
  • Article   1016 Limited Tendering Procedures 10
  • Section   C Bid Challenge 10
  • Article   1017 Bid Challenge 10
  • Section   D General Provisions 10
  • Article   1018 Exceptions 10
  • Article   1019 Provision of Information 10
  • Article   1020 Technical Cooperation 11
  • Article   1021 Joint Programs for Small Business 11
  • Article   1022 Rectifications or Modifications 11
  • Article   1023 Divestiture of Entities 11
  • Article   1024 Further Negotiations 11
  • Article   1025 Definitions 11
  • Part   Five INVESTMENT, SERVICES AND RELATED MATTERS 11
  • Chapter   Eleven INVESTMENT 11
  • Section   A Investment 11
  • Article   1101 Scope and Coverage 11
  • Article   1102 National Treatment 11
  • Article   1103 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment 11
  • Article   1104 Standard of Treatment 11
  • Article   1105 Minimum Standard of Treatment 11
  • Article   1106 Performance Requirements 11
  • Article   1107 Senior Management and Boards of Directors 11
  • Article   1110 Expropriation and Compensation 11
  • Article   1111 Special Formalities and Information Requirements 11
  • Article   1112 Relation to other Chapters 11
  • Article   1113 Denial of Benefits 11
  • Article   1114 Environmental Measures 12
  • Section   B Settlement of Disputes between a Party and an Investor of Another Party 12
  • Article   1115 Purpose 12
  • Article   1116 Claim by an Investor of a Party on Its Own Behalf 12
  • Article   1117 Claim by an Investor of a Party on Behalf of an Enterprise 12
  • Article   1118 Settlement of a Claim Through Consultation and Negotiation 12
  • Article   1119 Notice of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration 12
  • Article   1120 Submission of a Claim to Arbitration 12
  • Article   1121 Conditions Precedent to Submission of a Claim to Arbitration 12
  • Article   1122 Consent to Arbitration 12
  • Article   1123 Number of Arbitrators and Method of Appointment 12
  • Article   1124 Constitution of a Tribunal When a Party Fails to Appoint an Arbitrator or the Disputing Parties Are Unable to Agree on a Presiding Arbitrator 12
  • Article   1125 Agreement to Appointment of Arbitrators 12
  • Article   1126 Consolidation 12
  • Article   1127 Notice a Disputing Party Shall Deliver to the other Parties: 12
  • Article   1128 Participation by a Party 12
  • Article   1129 Documents 12
  • Article   1130 Place of Arbitration 12
  • Article   1131 Governing Law 12
  • Article   1132 Interpretation of Annexes 12
  • Article   1133 Expert Reports 12
  • Article   1134 Interim Measures of Protection 12
  • Article   1135 Final Award 12
  • Article   1136 Finality and Enforcement of an Award 12
  • Article   1137 General 12
  • Article   1138 Exclusions 12
  • Section   C Definitions 13
  • Article   1139 Definitions 13
  • Annex 1120.1  Submission of a Claim to Arbitration 13
  • Annex 1138.2  Exclusions from Dispute Settlement 13
  • Chapter   Twelve CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN SERVICES 13
  • Article   1201 Scope and Coverage 13
  • Article   1202 National Treatment 13
  • Article   1203 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment 13
  • Article   1204 Standard of Treatment 13
  • Article   1205 Local Presence 13
  • Article   1206 Reservations 13
  • Article   1207 Quantitative Restrictions 13
  • Article   1208 Liberalization of Non-Discriminatory Measures 13
  • Article   1209 Procedures 13
  • Article   1210 Licensing and Certification 13
  • Article   1211 Denial of Benefits 13
  • Article   1212 Sectoral Annex 13
  • Article   1213 Definitions 13
  • Chapter   Thirteen TELECOMMUNICATIONS 14
  • Article   1301 Scope and Coverage 14
  • Article   1302 Access to and Use of Public Telecommunications Transport Networks and Services 14
  • Article   1303 Conditions for the Provision of Enhanced or Value-Added Services 14
  • Article   1304 Standards-Related Measures 14
  • Article   1305 Monopolies 14
  • Article   1306 Transparency 14
  • Article   1308 Relation to International Organizations and Agreements 14
  • Article   1309 Technical Cooperation and other Consultations 14
  • Article   1310 Definitions 14
  • Chapter   Fourteen FINANCIAL SERVICES 14
  • Article   1401 Scope and Coverage 14
  • Article   1402 Self-Regulatory Organizations 14
  • Article   1403 Establishment of Financial Institutions 14
  • Article   1404 Cross-Border Trade 14
  • Article   1405 National Treatment 14
  • Article   1406 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment 15
  • Article   1407 New Financial Services and Data Processing 15
  • Article   1408 Senior Management and Boards of Directors 15
  • Article   1409 Reservations and Specific Commitments 15
  • Article   1410 Exceptions 15
  • Article   1411 Transparency 15
  • Article   1412 Financial Services Committee 15
  • Article   1413 Consultations 15
  • Article   1414 Dispute Settlement 15
  • Article   1415 Investment Disputes In Financial Services 15
  • Article   1416 Definitions 15
  • Annex 1412.1  Authorities Responsible for Financial Services 15
  • Chapter   Fifteen COMPETITION POLICY, MONOPOLIES AND STATE ENTERPRISES 15
  • Article   1501 Competition Law 15
  • Article   1502 Monopolies and State Enterprises 15
  • Article   1503 State Enterprises 15
  • Article   1504 Working Group on Trade and Competition 15
  • Article   1505 Definitions 15
  • Annex 1505  Country-Specific Definitions of State Enterprises 15
  • Chapter   Sixteen TEMPORARY ENTRY FOR BUSINESS PERSONS 15
  • Article   1601 General Principles 15
  • Article   1602 General Obligations 15
  • Article   1603 Grant of Temporary Entry 16
  • Article   1604 Provision of Information 16
  • Article   1605 Working Group 16
  • Article   1606 Dispute Settlement 16
  • Article   1607 Relation to other Chapters 16
  • Article   1608 Definitions 16
  • Annex 1603  Temporary Entry for Business Persons 16
  • Section   A Business Visitors 16
  • Section   B Traders and Investors 16
  • Section   C Intra-Company Transferees 16
  • Section   D Professionals 16
  • Part   Six INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 16
  • Chapter   Seventeen INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 16
  • Article   1701 Nature and Scope of Obligations 16
  • Article   1702 More Extensive Protection 16
  • Article   1703 National Treatment 16
  • Article   1704 Control of Abusive or Anticompetitive Practices or Conditions 16
  • Article   1705 Copyright 16
  • Article   1706 Sound Recordings 16
  • Article   1707 Protection of Encrypted Program-Carrying Satellite Signals 16
  • Article   1708 Trademarks 16
  • Article   1709 Patents 17
  • Article   1710 Layout Designs of Semiconductor Integrated Circuits 17
  • Article   1711 Trade Secrets 17
  • Article   1712 Geographical Indications 17
  • Article   1713 Industrial Designs 17
  • Article   1714 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: General Provisions 17
  • Article   1715 Specific Procedural and Remedial Aspects of Civil and Administrative Procedures 17
  • Article   1716 Provisional Measures 17
  • Article   1717 Criminal Procedures and Penalties 17
  • Article   1718 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights at the Border 17
  • Article   1718 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights at the Border 18
  • Article   1719 Cooperation and Technical Assistance 18
  • Article   1720 Protection of Existing Subject Matter 18
  • Article   1721 Definitions 18
  • Part   Seven ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 18
  • Chapter   Eighteen PUBLICATION, NOTIFICATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF LAWS 18
  • Article   1801 Contact Points 18
  • Article   1802 Publication 18
  • Article   1803 Notification and Provision of Information 18
  • Article   1804 Administrative Proceedings 18
  • Article   1805 Review and Appeal 18
  • Article   1806 Definitions 18
  • Chapter   Nineteen REVIEW AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IN ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING DUTY MATTERS 18
  • Article   1901 General Provisions 18
  • Article   1902 Retention of Domestic Antidumping Law and Countervailing Duty Law 18
  • Article   1903 Review of Statutory Amendments 18
  • Article   1904 Review of Final Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Determinations 18
  • Article   1905 Safeguarding the Panel Review System 18
  • Article   1906 Prospective Application 19
  • Article   1907 Consultations 19
  • Article   1908 Special Secretariat Provisions 19
  • Article   1909 Code of Conduct 19
  • Article   1910 Miscellaneous 19
  • Article   1911 Definitions 19
  • Chapter   Twenty INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES 19
  • Section   A Institutions 19
  • Article   2011 The Free Trade Commission 19
  • Article   2002 The Secretariat 19
  • Section   B Dispute Settlement 19
  • Article   2003 Cooperation 19
  • Article   2004 Recourse to Dispute Settlement Procedures 19
  • Article   2005 GATT Dispute Settlement 19
  • Article   2006 Consultations 19
  • Article   2007 Commission - Good Offices, Conciliation and Mediation 19
  • Article   2008 Request for an Arbitral Panel 20
  • Article   2009 Roster 20
  • Article   2010 Qualifications of Panelists 20
  • Article   2011 Panel Selection 20
  • Article   2012 Rules of Procedure 20
  • Article   2013 Third Party Participation 20
  • Article   2014 Role of Experts 20
  • Article   2015 Scientific Review Boards 20
  • Article   2016 Initial Report 20
  • Article   2017 Final Report 20
  • Article   2018 Implementation of Final Report 20
  • Article   2019 Non-Implementation-Suspension of Benefits 20
  • Section   C Domestic Proceedings and Private Commercial Dispute Settlement 20
  • Article   2020 Referrals of Matters from Judicial or Administrative Proceedings 20
  • Article   2021 Private Rights 20
  • Article   2022 Alternative Dispute Resolution 20
  • Annex 2001.2  Committees and Working Groups 20
  • Annex 2002.2  Remuneration and Payment of Expenses 20
  • Annex 2004  Nullification and Impairment 20
  • Part   Eight OTHER PROVISIONS 20
  • Chapter   Twenty-One EXCEPTIONS 20
  • Article   2101 General Exceptions 20
  • Article   2102 National Security 20
  • Article   2103 Taxation 21
  • Article   2104 Balance of Payments 21
  • Article   2105 Disclosure of Information 21
  • Article   2106 Cultural Industries 21
  • Article   2107 Definitions 21
  • Annex 2103.4  Specific Taxation Measures 21
  • Annex 2103.6  Competent Authorities 21
  • Annex 2106  Cultural Industries 21
  • Chapter   Twenty-Two FINAL PROVISIONS 21
  • Article   2201 Annexes 21
  • Article   2202 Amendments 21
  • Article   2203 Entry Into Force 21
  • Article   2204 Accession 21
  • Article   2205 Withdrawal 21
  • Article   2206 Authentic Texts 21
  • Annex I  Reservations for Existing Measures and Liberalization Commitments 21
  • Annex I  Schedule of Canada 21
  • Annex I  Schedule of Mexico 25
  • Annex I  Schedule of the United States 31
  • Annex II  Reservations for Future Measures (Chapters 11, 12, and 14) 32
  • Annex II  Schedule of Canada 33
  • Annex II  Schedule of Mexico 34
  • Annex II  Schedule of United States 34
  • Annex III  Activities Reserved to the State (Chapter 11) 35
  • Annex III  Schedule of Mexico 35
  • Annex IV  Exceptions from Most-Favored-Nation Treatment (Chapter 11) 36
  • Annex IV  Schedule of Canada 36
  • Annex IV  Schedule of Mexico 36
  • Annex IV  Schedule of the United States 36