(1) As soon as an application under rule 6 is accepted, and in any event before the initiation of any investigation, the Government of the exporting country, the products of which may be subject to investigation, shall be invited for consultations to clarify the situation for the matters referred to in rule 6 so as to arrive at a mutually agreed solution.

(2) The Government of the exporting country, shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to continue consultations, to clarify the factual situation so as to arrive at a mutually agreed solution, throughout the period of investigation.