1. A Party may request in writing consultations with the other Party regarding any matter referred to in Article 29.2.  

2. The requesting Party shall transmit the request to the responding Party, and shall set out the reasons for the request, including the identification of the specific measure at issue and the legal basis for the complaint.  

3. Subject to paragraph 4, the Parties shall enter into consultations within 30 days of the date of receipt of the request by the responding Party.  

4. In cases of urgency, including those involving perishable or seasonal goods, or services that rapidly lose their trade value, consultations shall commence within 15 days of the date of receipt of the request by the responding Party.  

5. The Parties shall make every attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter through consultations. To this end, each Party shall:  
     (a) provide sufficient information to enable a full examination of the matter at issue;  
     (b) protect any confidential or proprietary information exchanged in the course of consultations as requested by the Party providing the information; and  
     (c) make available the personnel of its government agencies or other regulatory bodies who have expertise in the matter that is the subject of the consultations.  

6. Consultations are confidential and without prejudice to the rights of the Parties in proceedings under this Chapter.  

7. Consultations shall take place in the territory of the responding Party unless the Parties agree otherwise. Consultations may be held in person or by any other means agreed to by the Parties.  

8. A Party’s proposed measure may be the subject of consultations under this Article but may not be the subject of mediation under Article 29.5 or the dispute settlement procedures under Section C.