国际商法 Part 3 Contract Law 合同法

SectionIII

ContractlawfortheInternationalSaleofGoodsMajorIssuestoBeCoveredDefinitionandFormofContractValidityandFormationofContractContentsofaContractBreachofContractandRemediesPartIFormationandValidityofContractsIDefinitionandFormofContract1.DefinitionofContract合同/协议A)AmericanLaw:“Apromiseorasetofpromises,forbreachofwhichthelawgivesaremedy,ortheperformanceofwhichthelawinsomewayrecognizesasaduty.”B)China’sContractLaw:“Acontractisanagreementestablishing,modifyingandterminatingthecivilrightsandobligationsbetweennaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizations.”本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的协议。2.FormofContract合同形式A)UKLaw:Intheearlyperiod,itwasrequiredthatcontractbeinwriting.1906revisedSalesofGoodsActrepealedthein-writingrequirement.B)CISG:“Acontractofsaleneednotbeconcludedinorevidencedbywritingandisnotsubjecttoanyotherrequirementsastoform.Itmaybeprovedbyanymeans,includingwitnesses.”C)UNIDROIDPICC:almostthesamewithCISGD)China’sContractLaw(Article10):“Thepartiesmay,whenmakingacontract,usewrittenform,verbalformoranyotherform.”当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。“Thewrittenformshallbeadoptediflawsoradministrativeregulationssorequire.Thewrittenformshallbeadoptedifthepartiessoagree.”法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。II.ValidityandFormationofContract1.Essentialelementsofavalidcontracta)anagreementbetweenparties(offerandacceptance).协议=要约+承诺b)legallysufficientconsideration（对价）c)legalcapacity缔约能力d)notforillegalpurpose/contrarytopublicpolicy.e)intentiontocreatelegalrelations2.Offer要约1)theconceptofofferAnofferisaproposalbyonepersontoanotherindicatinganintentiontoenterintoacontractunderspecifiedterms.TheSecondRestatementofContracts:“Anofferisamanifestationofwillingnesstoenterintoabargain,somadeastojustifyanotherpersoninunderstandingthathisassenttothatbargainisinvitedandwillconcludeit.”2)RequirementsofOffera)Anoffermustbeaddressedtooneormorespecificpersons.b)anoffermustbesufficientlydefiniteandindicatestheintentionoftheofferortobebound.(Definiteness:descriptionofgoods,expresslyorimplicitlyspecifiesthequantityandpriceetc.)3)LapseofOffer要约的失效a)Onthedeatheitheroftheofferorortheoffereebeforeacceptance.b)Bynon-acceptancewithinthetimeprescribedforacceptance.c)Whennotimeforacceptanceisprescribed,bynon-acceptancewithinareasonabletime.(Howtodecidereasonabletime?)d)Expressrejection.明确拒绝e)Counteroffer.反要约f)Revocationbytheofferor.撤销/撤回要约4)Revocationofoffer要约的撤销a)Definition:Theofferornotifiestheoffereeoftheinvalidityoftheoffersoastobefreefromitbeforeacceptanceoftheofferee.b)Englishlaw:Anoffermayberevokedatanytimebeforeacceptance.c)CISG:Anoffermayberevokediftherevocationreachestheoffereebeforehehasdispatchedanacceptance;Anoffercan’tberevoked(a)ifitindicatesthatitisirrevocableor(b)ifitwasreasonablefortheoffereetorelyontheofferasbeingirrevocableandtheoffereehasactedinrelianceontheoffer.3.Acceptance承诺Article

25

A

contract

is

established

when

the

acceptance

becomes

effective.

承诺生效时合同成立。Article26Anacceptancebecomeseffectivewhenitsnoticereachestheofferor.Ifnoticeofacceptanceisnotrequired,theacceptanceshallbecomeeffectivewhenanactofacceptanceisperformedinaccordancewithtransactionpracticesorasrequiredintheoffer.承诺通知到达要约人时生效。承诺不需要通知的，根据交易习惯或者要约的要求作出承诺的行为时生效。1)DefinitionOfferee’smanifestationoftheintentiontobeboundtothetermsoftheoffer.Acontractisn’tformeduntiltheofferisacceptedbytheofferee.Theoffereemayacceptatanytimebeforetheofferisinvalid.Anacceptancemaytaketheformofastatementoranyotherconductthatindicatestheofferee’sintentiontobeboundtothecontract.2)RequirementsofAcceptancea)mustbemadebytheofferee.b)Mustbemadewithintheperiodofvalidity.c)Mustmatchthetermsoftheofferexactlyandunequivocally.与要约内容一致Question:Whatisthenatureofan“acceptance”thatdoesnotmatchthetermsoftheofferexactly?ReceiptTheory:Undermostcivillaw,acontractisformedwhentheacceptanceisreceivedbytheofferor.CISG,UNIDROITPICCandChinaContractLawalladoptthereceipttheory.3)ValidTimeofAcceptancePinnel’scase[1602]

ColeowedPinnelasumofmoney(£810s)butatPinnel’srequestpaidapartofthisamount(£52s6d).Pinneldecidedtoacceptthisamountandsaidhewouldnotclaimtherest.Butlater,Pinnelregretted,demandingthepaymentoftherest.ColeclaimedthattherewasanagreementbyPinnelthatthepart-paymentwoulddischargethefulldebt.Question:Whichpartydoyoustandby?6.ConsiderationinCommonLaw对价1)DefinitionConsiderationissomebenefitreceivedbyapartywhogivesapromiseorperformsanact,orsomedetrimentsufferedbyapartywhoreceivesapromise.(thepriceyoupaytobuyanotherperson’spromise)Undercommonlaw,itisoneofthethreeelementsofcontractformation.2)GeneralRulesonConsiderationa)musthavesufficientvaluebutneednotbeadequate.b)mustbepresentorfutureandcannotbepast.c)mustbepossibletoperform.d)mustbelegale)mustmovefromthepromiseef)mustnotbetoovagueArticle54Apartyshallhavetherighttorequestthepeople’scourtoranarbitrationinstitutiontomodifyorrevokethefollowingcontracts:下列合同，当事人一方有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机构变更或者撤销(1)thoseconcludedasaresultofsignificantmisconception;因重大误解订立的(2)thosethatareobviouslyunfairatthetimewhenconcludingthecontract.在订立合同时显失公平的。Ifacontractisconcludedbyonepartyagainsttheotherparty'strueintentionsthroughtheuseoffraud,coercion,orexploitationoftheotherparty’sunfavorableposition,theinjuredpartyshallhavetherighttorequestthepeople’scourtoranarbitrationinstitutiontomodifyorrevokeit.一方以欺诈、胁迫的手段或者乘人之危，使对方在违背真实意思的情况下订立的合同，受损害方有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机构变更或者撤销。Whereapartyrequestsformodification,thepeople’scourtorthearbitrationinstitutionmaynotrevokethecontract.当事人请求变更的，人民法院或者仲裁机构不得撤销。《最高人民法院关于贯彻执行<中华人民共和国民法通则>若干问题的意见(试行)》第七十一条规定：“行为人因对行为的性质、对方当事人、标的物的品种、质量、规格和数量等的错误认识，使行为的后果与自己的意思相悖，并造成较大损失的，可以认定为重大误解。”PartIIContentsofContracts:SalesContractasanExample1.ExpressandImpliedterms明示/默示

(1)Anexpresstermisoneagreedbypartiesbetweenthemduringformationofacontract．(2)Impliedtermsaretermsnotagreeduponbyparties,butareincorporatedintothecontractinoneofthefollowingways(equallybinding):ImpliedbystatuteImpliedbycustomImpliedbythecourts2.Conditions,WarrantiesandInnominateTerms(1)Condition核心条款:Amajorterm.Ifonepartybreachesacondition,injuredpartymay:terminatethecontractandrefusetocarryouthisobligationsunderthecontract,orcontinuewiththeagreementandsueforbreachofcontract(fordamages).(2)Warranty从属条款:Aminortermofacontract.Ifonepartyisinbreachofawarranty,injuredpartydoesNOThaverighttoterminateagreement.Hemustcompletehispartoftheagreementandsuetheotherpartyfordamagesforbreach.（仅一个选择）(3)Innominateterms无名条款:Withaninnominateterm,therightsoftheinjuredpartyintheeventofabreachdependontheactualcircumstancesorconsequencesofthebreach.

3.ObligationsoftheSeller

(1)deliveryofthegoods(2)turningoverofdocuments(3)Seller’sassuranceofthequalityofgoodsSaleofGoodsActSalebydescription:Satisfactoryquality+fitnessforaparticularpurposeSalebysample:UCC:ExpresswarrantyImpliedwarranty:merchantabilityandfitnessforaparticularpurposeChineseLawArticle153Thesellershalldeliverthesubjectmatterincompliancewiththeagreedqualityrequirements.Wherethesellergivesthequalityspecificationsforthesubjectmatter,thesubjectmatterdeliveredshallcomplywiththequalityrequirementssetforththerein.出卖人应当按照约定的质量要求交付标的物。出卖人提供有关标的物质量说明的，交付的标的物应当符合该说明的质量要求。Article168Inasalebysample,thepartiesshallplacethesampleunderseal,andmayspecifythequalityofthesample.Thesubjectmatterdeliveredbythesellershallcomplywiththesampleaswellasthequalityspecifications.凭样品买卖的当事人应当封存样品，并可以对样品质量予以说明。出卖人交付的标的物应当与样品及其说明的质量相同。(China’sContractLaw)经营者应当保证在正常使用商品或者接受服务的情况下其提供的商品或者服务应当具有的质量、性能、用途和有效期限；但消费者在购买该商品或者接受该服务前已经知道其存在瑕疵，且存在该瑕疵不违反法律强制性规定的除外。经营者以广告、产品说明、实物样品或者其他方式表明商品或者服务的质量状况的，应当保证其提供的商品或者服务的实际质量与表明的质量状况相符。第33条,《消费者权益保护法》

(4)assuranceofownershipofthegoods(CISG)Sellermustdeliverthegoodswhicharefreefromanyrightorclaimofathirdparty,unlessthebuyeragreedtotakedeliverysubjecttothatrightorclaim.4)Buyer’sObligations(1)paymentoftheprice(2)takingdelivery(CISG)doingalltheactswhichcouldreasonablybeexpectedhiminordertoenablethesellertomakedelivery;takingoverthegoods.11.PassingofRisk11.1CommonLaw1)Englishlaw:thepartywhobearstheriskoflossisthepartywhoownsthematthatmoment.2)ChinaContractlawContractedtimeofpassingofrisk;Bysellerbeforedelivery,bybuyerafterdelivery;Wheregoodsneedscarriage,bybuyerafterthesellerhasdeliveredthegoodstothefirstcarrier.Forgoodsonrouteofcarriage,bybuyerasofthetimeoftheconclusionofthecontract.Ifgoodsnotsatisfiedthequality,buyermayrefusetoacceptorrescindthecontract,thesellershallbeartherisk;Non-deliveryduetocausesofthebuyer,thebuyershallbeartherisk;Ifsellerputgoodsattheplaceofdelivery,butthebuyerfailstotakedelivery,theriskshallbebornebythebuyerasofthedateofbreach;13.ExcusesforNon-Performance13.1Commonlaw1)impossibilityofperformance履行不能deathofoneparty;destructionofthespecificsubjectmatter;performanceofthecontracthasbeenrenderillegalormadeimpossibleduetothefaultoftheotherparty.2)supervening（随后产生/意外产生）illegalityExcusablewhenperformancebecomeillegalaftertheconclusionofthecontract.3)frustrationofpurpose(rare)情势变更Aparty’sperformancecouldbeexcusedifsomeunforeseeneventoccurredthatfrustratedthepurposeofthecontract.Theeventmusthavetheeffecttodestroytotallythevalueofthecontracttothepartyrelyontheexcuse.4)commercialimpracticability商业上不能实现Apartytoacontractwhoispreventedfromperformingmayattempttobeexcusedunderthedoctrineofcommercialimpracticability.Athingisimpracticablewhenitcanbedoneonlyatanexcessiveandunreasonablecost.13.2ForceMajeureClausesForcemajeureclausesgenerallydonotexcuseaparty’snonperformanceentirely,butonlysuspenditforthedurationoftheforcemajeure.Noticeandcertificateattestingforcemajeureeventsmustbegivenatafixedtimeorreasonabletime.NeitherpartyshallbeheldresponsibleforfailureordelaytoperformalloranypartofthisContractduetoflood,fire,earthquake,snowstorm,hailstorm,hurricane,war,governmentprohibitionoranyothereventsthatareunforeseeableatthetimeoftheexecutionofthisContractandcouldnotbecontrolled,avoidedorovercomebysuchparty.任何一方如果由于洪水、火灾、地震、雪暴、雹暴、飓风、战争、政策禁令或其他在合同执行时无法预见并不能控制、不可避免或无法克服的事件致使不能或迟延履行合同的全部或一部分时，该方不承担责任。PartIIIBreachandRemedies1.DischargeofcontractDischargeisthewaythatacontractcomestoanend.Waysofdischarge:MutualagreementFrustration(byfactorssuchasawarornaturaldisaster)Performance(Mostcontractsdischargedthisway)BreachWhenacontractisnotdischargedbyperformanceoragreementbetweentheparties(orendedbyfactorsoutsidethecontroloftheparties),thereisabreachofcontract.2.RemediesforBreachofContract2.1ConceptofbreachofcontractApartywithoutlawfulexcusefailsorrefusestoperformwhatisduefromhimunderthecontract,orperformsdefectivelyorincapacitateshimselffromperforming.Theobjectiveofremedies:toputtheinjuredpersoninthesamepositionasifthecontracthasbeenperformed.2.2GeneralprinciplesofRemediesa)Thedoctrineofcompensation补偿原则Doctrineofexpectationinterest（期待利益）:theinjuredpartyisentitledtohisexpectationinterestlostbythepartyinbreach.(tobeinasgoodpositionasthatpartywouldhavebeeninhadthecontractbeenperformed)Doctrineofreli