2. The Community shall co-ordinate its trade relations with foreign countries so as to facilitate the implementation of a common policy in the field of external trade. 3. (a) Upon the signing of this Protocol and before its coming into force, and taking into account, inter alia, the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the Partner States shall identify the issues arising out of their current relationships with other integration blocs and multilateral and international organisations of which they are members in order to establish convergence on those matters for the purposes of the Customs Union. (b) For purposes of this paragraph, the Partner States shall, upon the signing of this Protocol formulate a mechanism to guide the relationships between the Customs Union and other integration blocs, multilateral and international organisations. 4. (a) A Partner State may separately conclude or amend a trade agreement with a foreign country provided that the terms of such an agreement or amendments are not in conflict with the provisions of this Protocol. (b) Where a Partner State intends to conclude or amend an agreement, as specified in paragraph 4(a) of this Article, with a foreign country the Partner State shall send its proposed agreement or amendment by registered mail to the Secretary General, who shall communicate the proposed agreement by registered mail to the other Partner States within a period of thirty days, for their consideration. (c) Where a Partner State notifies the other Partner States of its intention under paragraph 4(b) of this Article, the other Partner States shall make comments and proposals as they may deem appropriate, within ninety days from the receipt of the Secretary General's notification, before the conclusion or amendment of the agreement. (d) Following the receipt of the comments and proposals as specified in paragraph 4(c) of this Article, the Secretary General shall convene a meeting of the Council within a period of sixty days to consider the comments and proposals. (e) Where the Partner States do not submit comments and proposals within the period specified under paragraph 4(c) of this Article, the concerned Partner State may conclude or amend the said agreement. 32