INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS Flashcards
A (Zurch) sells a computer to B (Berlin). B, therefore, withdraws from the contract with A, sends the notebook back and demands repayment of the purchase price. A refuses because she claims that they entered into a valid contract and that B has no right of withdrawal
Can B claim his money back? –> Which law is applicable?
Can B fill a lawsuit against A? –> Which court has jurisdiction?
Can B enforce a judgement against A? if so, where and how? –> where and how foreign judgements can be enforced?
SOLVE:
Germany
Berlin
Consequences of legal uncertainty in international trade
- Set incentives to abstain from international transactions.
- Reduces the number of international transactions.
- Reduces the variety of products available for sale nationally
- Reduces the quality of products available for sale nationally
Which is the narrow sense of PIL and the broad one?
Choice of law –> Narrow
Uniform substantive law –> Broad
What is forus convenience or forus non convenience?
The court decides if its system is convenient to decide about certain case.
What is the function of the PIL in the narrow sense?
Help to overcome legal uncertainty by assigning international transactions to one legal system with the help of choice of law rule
What is the function of the PIL in the broad sense?
Help to overcome legal uncertainty through the international unification of (substantive) private law
What are the sources of uniform substantive law?
National law
Public international law
European Union law
Which provisions apply if national law, international law and/or European law conflict/overlap?
National v. EU Law
National v. International law
EU Law v. International
National v. EU Law –> EU Law
National v. International law –> International law (but depends on each country)
EU Law v. International –> International
How to interpret an international treaty?
Vienna Convention
How do we interprete the CISG?
It’s possible to go back to the predecessors (ULF and ULIS) and the preparatory notes
What does CISG mean?
United Nation Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods
What is the scope of Regulation of the CISG? (Positive and negative)
Positive scope of regulation: formation of the contract of sale and the rights and obligations of the seller and the buyer arising from such a contract.
Negative scope of regulation: the validity of the contract, transfer of property, product liability, agency, capacity, etc.
What do we use in cases where the CISG doesn’t apply? Filling the gaps
- Application of general principles of the CISG (Art. 7.2 CISG)
- Application of the national rules hat apply by virtue of PIL
What are the requirements for the application of the CISG?
- Parties must fall into the territorial scope of the CISG.
- Contract must fall into the the substantive scope of application.
- No opt-out by the parties
Explain the territorial scope of application of the CISG
2 alternatives:
i. Parties have their place of business in different contracting states
ii. Parties have their place of business in different states and the law of a contracting state of the CISG applies by virtue of the provisions of PIL.
Which Countries are not part of the CISG?
UK
In the following example, is the territorial requirement comply? CISG
A (German) sells to B (UK) leather shoes. But they are synthetic leather.
Yes:
UK is not part, German is.
The applicable rules of PILAW calls for application of the law at the habitual residence of the seller. Thus, German law is the designed law (Rome I Regulation)
Since Germany is a contracting state of CISG, the rules of PILAW lead to application of the law of a contracting state
Explain the substantive scope of application of the CISG
2 alternatives:
i. Contracts for the sale of goods.
ii. Contracts for the supply of goods to be produced.
Explain the third requirement of the scope of application of the CISG: No opt-out by the parties.
Make an example
2 alternatives:
i. Express opt-put/exclusion of the CISG
ii. Implicit opt-out/exclusion of the CISG
What is the difference between Rome I and Rome II, which one was created first?
Rome I –> Contractual obligations
Rome II –> Non-contractual obligations
When do we apply the Rome I Regulation?
In situations involving a conflict of laws, to contractual obligations in civil and commercial matters.
What are the requirements to apply Rome I?
- Territorial Requirement
- Temporal Requirement
- Substantive Requirement
Explain the territorial scope of application of the Rome I
Lawsuit iniciated in a member state.
Explain the temporal scope of application of the Rome I
Contracts concluded on or after 17.12.2009
Explain the substantive scope of application of the Rome I
Contractual obligations in civil and commercial matters involving a conflict of laws, as long as application of Rome I is not excluded
Which law should I apply to a contract that concluded before 17.12.2009?
Rome Convention
How do we interpret the Rome I Regulation?
Interpretate in an autonomous way the European law.
This means that even when a court is interpreting it, the court cannot do it as it usually do it or how the other member states would do it, but how should be done in the entire EU
Which issues are excluded from the substantive scope of application of Rome I?
Art. 1.3
Agency, capacity, arbitration agreement, family relationship, etc.
Is there any other requirement for the application of CISG or Rome I?
No
No personal requirement, or nationality.
Which law should we apply for cases related to Denmark?
Rome I Regulation
What are the effects of BREXIT on the application of the Rome I Regulation?
Courts continue to apply Rome I Regulation because it’s part of its domestic law. But when it’s about the EU they are no longer part of it.
What are the effects for other UE members of BREXIT on the application of the Rome I Regulation?
When there is a case that involves the UK, because of the Withdrawal Agreement the Rome I Regulation is still applied because the transition. Without this Agreement states should apply the Rome Convention.
Also, the rules are part of its domestic law