Article 1021: Joint Programs for Small Business
1. The Parties shall establish, within 12 months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Committee on Small Business comprising representatives of the Parties. The Committee shall meet as mutually agreed, but no less than once a year, and shall report annually to the Commission on the efforts of the Parties to promote government procurement opportunities for their small businesses.
2. The Committee shall work to facilitate the following activities of the Parties:
(a) identification of available opportunities for the
training of small business personnel in their government
procurement procedures;
(b) identification of small businesses interested in becoming
trading partners of small businesses in the territory of
any other Party;
(c) development of data bases of small businesses in the
territory of each Party for use by entities of any other
Party wishing to procure from small businesses;
(d) consultations regarding the factors that each Party uses
in establishing its criteria for eligibility for small
business programs, if any; and
(e) actions to address any related matter.
Article 1022: Rectifications or Modifications
1. A Party may make modifications to its coverage under this Chapter only in exceptional circumstances.