Artikel 17

1. Where any assistance requested under this Agreement may infringe the sovereignty, security, public policy or any other substantive national interest of the requested Party, or prejudice any legitimate commercial or professional interest, such assistance may be declined by the requested Party or provided subject to any terms and conditions it may require.
2. Where the requesting administration would be unable to comply if a similar request were made by the requested administration, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. Compliance with such a request shall be at the discretion of the requested administration.
3. Assistance may be postponed if there are grounds to believe that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or proceeding. In such a case the requested administration shall consult with the requesting administration to determine if assistance can be provided subject to any terms and conditions the requested administration may require.
4. If the requested administration considers that the effort required to fulfil a request is clearly disproportionate to the perceived benefit to the requesting administration, it may decline to provide the requested assistance.
5. The requested administration declining or postponing assistance shall inform the requesting administration hereof without delay. The reasons for declining or postponement shall be given.