1. On 1 March 2000, ADF Group Inc. (ADF or the Claimant or the Investor), a company established under the laws of Canada, delivered to the Government of the United States of America (U.S. or the Respondent), a Notice of Intention to Submit a Claim to Arbitration pursuant to Articles 1116, 1117, 1120(1)(b) and 1137(1)(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). On 21 July 2000, the Centre (ICSID) received a Notice of Arbitration dated 19 July 2000 from the Claimant against the Respondent with application for approval by the Secretary-General of access to the Additional Facility under Article 4 of the ICSID Arbitration (Additional Facility) Rules. The Notice was supplemented by a letter of 1 August 2000.