International Sales Law : A Critical Analysis of CISG Jurisprudence

Provides a selective analysis of the provisions of the CISG that have been applied in a 'critical mass' of court and arbitral decisions. The book, assessing the state of international sales law, is timely given the maturing state of CISG jurisprudence. Will be of interest to practitioners and scholars alike. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Preface 13 intended audience 14 Acknowledgments 15 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 cisg as international convention 24 principle of uniformity 26 Strict or Absolute Uniformity versus Relative Uniformity 26 Uniformity through Original or Autonomous Interpretation 27 Basis in International Contract Law 31 The CISG as LexMercatoria 31 CISG as Soft Law: Uniformity through the Prism of Customary International Law 29 Arbitral Tribunals’ Use of the CISG as Trade Usage 32 Conclusion 33 Chapter 2 CISG Methodology and Jurisprudence 35 interpretive methodology 38 general principles 39 Principle of Good Faith 43 general default rules and specific default rule creation 45 Chapter 3 Formation: Writing Requirements 48 precontractual liability 48 writing requirements and the parol evidence rule 54 The Writing Requirements of Articles 11, 12, and 13 56 Parol Evidence: National Courts and Articles 11 and 29 59 Chapter 4 Formation: Offer and Acceptance Rules 67 offer rules and open price term: articles 14 and 55 69 firm offers: articles 15--17 and 20--24 75 rules of acceptance: article 18 76 battle of the forms 82 National Courts and Article 19 83 Chapter 5 Obligations of Buyers 92 the duty to inspect, give notice, and preserve goods 92 Inspection Duties and Rights: Article 38 94 Notice of Nonconformity: Article 39 100 Reasonable Excuse: Article 44 107 payment of the price and the taking of delivery 109 Formalities of Payment: Article 54 110 Price: Article 55 111 Place of Payment: Article 57 113 Time of Payment: Article 58 115 Chapter 6 Obligations of Sellers 117 the duty of delivery 117 Place of Delivery: Article 31 120 Time of Delivery: Article 33 123 express and implied warranties 123 Warranties: Article 35 126 Risk of Loss and Warranties: Article 36 134 Effect of Sellers Knowledge: Article 40 135 Chapter 7 Common Obligations of Buyers and Sellers 137 passing of risk 137 fundamental and anticipatory breach 139 Fundamental Breach: Article 25 141 Anticipatory Breach, Adequate Assurance, and Installment Contracts: Articles 71--73 144 Chapter 8 Breach of Contract by Seller 148 right to substituted or repaired goods 149 right to affix additional time 150 right to avoid contract 151 right to a price reduction 154 Chapter 9 Breach of Contract by Buyer 156 nachfrist notice: article 47 158 late performance: article 48 161 avoidance of contract: article 64 162 effects of avoidance: articles 81--84 165 Chapter 10 Damages, Excuse, and Preservation 167 calculation of damages: articles 75 and 76 167 limiting doctrines: articles 74 and 77 169 Doctrine of Foreseeability 170 Attorneys' Fees and Debt Collection 172 Doctrine of Mitigation 173 impediment (excuse) to performance: article 79 174 preservation of goods: articles 87 and 88 176 Chapter 11 Summary and Observations 179 developing an international jurisprudence 180 Filling in the Gaps and the Fabrication of Specific Default Rules 181 Particularized Express Consent 182 Importance of Trade Usage in CISG Rule Application 184 Importance of Notice 187 Burden of Proof 188 persistence of homeward trend 190 summary 193 Table of authorities and cases 195 GENERAL BACKGROUND 195 CISG InterpretiveMethodology 196 cases 197 Argentina 197 Austria 197 Belgium 197 Columbia 197 Finland 197 France 198 Germany 198 Hungary 198 Italy 198 Mexico 198 Switzerland 198 United States 199 CONTRACT FORMATION 199 cases 201 Argentina 201 Austria 201 Australia 202 Belgium 202 Finland 202 France 202 Germany 203 Hungary 204 International Chamber of Commerce 204 Mexico 205 Netherlands 205 People’s Republic of China 205 Russian Federation 205 Spain 206 Switzerland 206 United States 206 Vietnam 207 OBLIGATIONS OF SELLERS 207 cases 209 Argentina 209 Belgium 209 Canada 209 Denmark 209 Egypt 209 France 209 Germany 210 Hungary 211 International Chamber of Commerce 211 Italy 212 Netherlands 212 Russian Federation 212 Spain 212 Switzerland 213 United States 213 OBLIGATIONS OF BUYERS 213 cases 215 Australia 215 Austria 215 Belgium 215 Peoples’ Republic of China 215 Denmark 215 France 216 Germany 216 Hungary 217 Italy 217 Netherlands 217 Russian Federation 218 Spain 218 Switzerland 218 United States 218 Vietnam 218 COMMON OBLIGATIONS OF BUYERS AND SELLERS 218 cases 219 Argentina 219 Austria 219 Belgium 219 Peoples’ Republic of China 219 Finland 219 France 220 Germany 220 Hungary 221 International Chamber of Commerce 221 Italy 221 Russian Federation 221 Spain 222 Switzerland 222 United Kingdom 222 United States 222 Appendix A: UN Convention on CISG 225 Appendix B: CISG: Table of Contracting States (As of February 8, 2005) 247 Index 249 This book is the product of extended research by five scholars working in the area of private international law. It provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the jurisprudence surrounding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). As of 1st January 2004, 62 countries have adopted the CISG as their countries' international sales law. Since the introduction of the CISG fifteen years ago, a critical mass of interpretive jurisprudence has developed, and, given its importance now as the world's preeminent sales law, the authors believed that a fresh analysis of the evolving case and arbitral law was now needed. The analysis in the book is undertaken at two levels - the practical interpretation of the CISG and the theoretical limits of interpretation of supranational conventions. This text is the product of extended research by five scholars working in the area of private international law. It provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the jurisprudence surrounding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale ofGoods (CISG)