Part Four: Cooperative Consultations and Evaluations

Article 20: Cooperation

The Parties shall at all times endeavor to agree on the interpretation and application of this Agreement, and shall make every attempt through cooperation and consultations to resolve any matter that might affect its operation.

Section A: Cooperative Consultations

Article 21: Consultations between NAOs

1. A NAO may request consultations, to be conducted in accordance with the procedures set out in paragraph 2, with another NAO in relation to the other Party's labor law, its administration, or labor market conditions in its territory. The requesting NAO shall notify the NAOs of the other Parties and the Secretariat of its request.

2. In such consultations, the requested NAO shall promptly provide such publicly available data or information, including:

1. descriptions of its laws, regulations, procedures, policies or practices,
   
2. proposed changes to such procedures, policies or practices, and
   
3. such clarifications and explanations related to such matters,

as may assist the consulting NAOs to better understand and respond to the issues raised.

3. Any other NAO shall be entitled to participate in the consultations on notice to the other NAOs and the Secretariat.

Article 22: Ministerial Consultations

1. Any Party may request in writing consultations with another Party at the ministerial level regarding any matter within the scope of this Agreement. The requesting Party shall provide specific and sufficient information to allow the requested Party to respond.

2. The requesting Party shall promptly notify the other Parties of the request. A third Party that considers it has a substantial interest in the matter shall be entitled to participate in the consultations on notice to the other Parties.

3. The consulting Parties shall make every attempt to resolve the matter through consultations under this Article, including through the exchange of sufficient publicly available information to enable a full examination of the matter.

Section B: Evaluations

Article 23: Evaluation Committee of Experts

1. If a matter has not been resolved after ministerial consultations pursuant to Article 22, any consulting Party may request in writing the establishment of an Evaluation Committee of Experts (ECE). The requesting Party shall deliver the request to the other Parties and to the Secretariat. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4, the Council shall establish an ECE on delivery of the request.

2. The ECE shall analyze, in the light of the objectives of this Agreement and in a non-adversarial manner, patterns of practice by each Party in the enforcement of its occupational safety and health or other technical labor standards as they apply to the particular matter considered by the Parties under Article 22.

3. No ECE may be convened if a Party obtains a ruling under Annex 23 that the matter:

1. is not trade-related; or
   
2. is not covered by mutually recognized labor laws.
   

4. No ECE may be convened regarding any matter that was previously the subject of an ECE report in the absence of such new information as would warrant a further report.

Article 24: Rules of Procedure

1. The Council shall establish rules of procedure for ECEs, which shall apply unless the Council otherwise decides. The rules of procedure shall provide that:

1. an ECE shall normally comprise three members;
   
2. the chair shall be selected by the Council from a roster of experts developed in consultation with the ILO pursuant to Article 45 and, where possible, other members shall be selected from a roster developed by the Parties;
   
3. ECE members shall
   
   1. have expertise or experience in labor matters or other appropriate disciplines,
      
   2. be chosen strictly on the basis of objectivity, reliability and sound judgment,
      
   3. be independent of, and not be affiliated with or take instructions from, any Party or the Secretariat, and
      
   4. comply with a code of conduct to be established by the Council;

   
   

4. an ECE may invite written submissions from the Parties and the public;
   
5. an ECE may consider, in preparing its report, any information provided by
   
   1. the Secretariat,
      
   2. the NAO of each Party,
      
   3. organizations, institutions and persons with relevant expertise, and
      
   4. the public; and
      
6. each Party shall have a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on information that the ECE receives and to make written submissions to the ECE.
   

2. The Secretariat and the NAOs shall provide appropriate administrative assistance to an ECE, in accordance with the rules of procedure established by the Council under paragraph 1.

Article 25: Draft Evaluation Reports

1. Within 120 days after it is established, or such other period as the Council may decide, the ECE shall present a draft report for consideration by the Council, which shall contain:

1. a comparative assessment of the matter under consideration;
   
2. its conclusions; and
   
3. where appropriate, practical recommendations that may assist the Parties in respect of the matter.
   

2. Each Party may submit written views to the ECE on its draft report. The ECE shall take such views into account in preparing its final report.

Article 26: Final Evaluation Reports

1. The ECE shall present a final report to the Council within 60 days after presentation of the draft report, unless the Council otherwise decides.

2. The final report shall be published within 30 days after its presentation to the Council, unless the Council otherwise decides.

3. The Parties shall provide to each other and the Secretariat written responses to the recommendations contained in the ECE report within 90 days of its publication.

4. The final report and such written responses shall be tabled for consideration at the next regular session of the Council. The Council may keep the matter under review.