The mandate of the Secretariat is set out in Article 2002.3 of the NAFTA and reads:
The Secretariat shall:
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provide assistance to the Commission;
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provide administrative assistance to:
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panels and committees established under Chapter Nineteen (Review and Dispute Settlement in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Matters), in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to Article 1908, and
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panels established under this Chapter [Institutional Arrangements and Dispute Settlement Procedures], in accordance with procedures established pursuant to Article 2012; and
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as the Commission may direct:
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support the work of other committees and groups established under this Agreement, and
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otherwise facilitate the operation of this Agreement.