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bligation that the applicant contracting party has assumed under Article 11, or riiich would tend to nullify or impair the benefit to any other contracting party r parties of any such obligation, the CONTRACTING PARTIES shall sponsor nd assist in negotiations between the applicant contracting party and the other ontracting party or parties which would be substantially, affected with a view o obtaining substantial agreement. The CONTRACTING PARTIES shall stablish and communicate to the contracting parties concerned a time schedule orsuch negotiations. . (b) Contracting parties shall commence the negotiations provided for in sub>aragraph (a) of this paragraph within such period as the CONTRACTING PARTIES nay prescribe and shall thereafter, unless the CONTRACTING PARTIES decide therwise, proceed continuously with such negotiations with a view to reaching übstantial agreement in accordance with the time schedule laid down by the CONTRACTING PARTIES. , (c) Upon substantial agreement being reached, the CONTRACTING PARTIES nay release the applicant contracting party from the obligation referred to in übparagraph (a) of this paragraph or from any other relevant obligation under his agreement, subject to such limitations as may have been agreed upon in the legotiations between the contracting parties concerned. 4. (a) If, as a result of their examination pursuant to paragraph 2 (c) of this lr£icle, the CONTRACTING PARTIES concur in any proposed measure, with or without modification/ other than a measure referred to in paragraph 3 (a) of this Article, which would be inconsistent with any. provision of this Agreement, the CONTRACTING PARTIES may release the applicant contracting party from any ibligation under such provision, subject to such limitations as they may impose. (b) If, having regard to the provisions of paragraph 2 (c) of this Article, it is established in the course of such examination that such measure is unlikely to be nore restrictive of international trade than any other practicable and reasonable measure permitted under this Agreement which could be imposed without undue lifficulty and that it is the one most suitable for the purpose having regard to the Economics of the industry or the branch of agriculture concerned and to the current Economic condition of the applicant contracting party, the CONTRACTING .-•ARTIES shall concur in such measure and grant such release as may be required :o enable such measure to be made effective. (c) If in anticipation of the concurrence of the CONTRACTING PARTIES in :he adoption of a measure concerning which notice has been given under paragraph 2 )f- this Article, other than a measure referred to in paragraph 3 (a) of this Article, :here should be an increase or threatened increase in the importations of the product )r products concerned, including products which can be directly substituted therefor, ;o substantial as to jeopardize the plans of the applicant contracting party for the establishment, development, or reconstruction of the industry or industries or tranches of agriculture concerned, and if no preventive measures consistent with