Page 496 - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

7. Each Third Party’s submission shall be reflected in the report of
the panel.

8. The findings and determinations of the panel cannot add to or
diminish the rights and obligations under this Agreement.

9. The panel shall consult regularly with the Parties to the dispute
and provide adequate opportunities for the Parties to the dispute
to develop a mutually agreed solution.

10. Paragraphs 1 through 4 shall not apply to a panel reconvened
pursuant to Article 19.16 (Compliance Review) and Article 19.17
(Compensation and Suspension of Concessions or Other
Obligations).

Article 19.13: Panel Procedures

1. A panel shall adhere to this Chapter and, unless the Parties to the
dispute agree otherwise, shall follow the Rules of Procedures.

2. On request of a Party to the dispute or on its own initiative, a panel
established pursuant to Article 19.11 (Establishment and
Reconvening of a Panel) may, after consulting the Parties to the
dispute, adopt additional rules of procedure which do not conflict
with this Chapter and with the Rules of Procedures. A panel
reconvened pursuant to Article 19.16 (Compliance Review) or
Article 19.17 (Compensation and Suspension of Concessions or
Other Obligations) may, after consulting the Parties to the dispute,
establish its own rules of procedures which do not conflict with
this Chapter and the Rules of Procedures, drawing as it deems
appropriate from this Chapter or the Rules of Procedures.

3. Panel procedures should provide sufficient flexibility so as to
ensure high-quality reports, while not unduly delaying the panel
process.

Timetable

4. After consulting the Parties to the dispute, a panel established
pursuant to Article 19.11 (Establishment and Reconvening of a
Panel) shall, as soon as practicable and whenever possible within
15 days of the date of its establishment, fix the timetable for the
panel process. The period of time from the date of establishment
of a panel until the date of issuance of the panel’s final report to

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