This book explores the international jurisprudence on Article 79 of the 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), which is, perhaps, one of its most contentious provisions. The author's premise is that Article 79 - which concerns exemptions for contractual non-performance due to an "impediment" beyond a party's control - should be interpreted autonomously, that is, as an international norm, without reference to domestic legal concepts and principles. To this end, he considers the application of Article 79 by courts and arbitral tribunals across a number of signatory states. The examination of Article 79 provides the focus and the depth of analysis necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding the development and treatment of an important, but problematic, legal doctrine. This doctrine is common, in various guises, to all the major legal regimes of the world. By studying the treatment of Article 79 by the courts and arbitral tribunals of various states, differences in doctrine and case law are discerned. Disparities in the national treatment of Article 79 are also examined within the context of globalization and the advent of international trade. The extent of conceptual differences towards the doctrine of excuses for non-performance helps to determine whether the CISG's goal of sales law harmonization and uniformity is ultimately achievable. The answer is of crucial importance to the international commercial parties involved in the burgeoning realm of global trade.

Table of Contents:
Preface Chapter 1. The Quest for a Uniform International sales Law a. The Quest for uniformity i. The importance of uniformity ii. The CISG's Quest to promote uniformity iii. uniformity and CISG article 79 iv. article 79 and the problem of Pacta Sunt Servanda b. critical scholarly perspectives on the CISG i. The Quest for uniformity in CISG Jurisprudence generally ii. Excuses for contractual non-performance in Domestic and international commercial law iii. article 79 and uniform international sales law c. research problem D. methodology Chapter 2. Background to the CISG a. The ancient Lex Mercatoria as autonomous law b. The modern Lex Mercatoria c. The history of the CISG Chapter 3. excuses for non-Performance: Development of an autonomous concept a. The creation of an autonomous international commercial concept b. roman origins c. The rise of Pacta Sunt Servanda . D. legal abstraction and the introduction of Rebus Sic Stantibus E. medieval origins of the principle of Excuse for non-performance f. origins of the principle of Excuse for non-performance in common law g. frustration i. impossibility . ii. frustration of purpose . iii. temporary impossibility h. hardship and impracticability i. origins of the principle of Excuse for non-performance in civil law i. Force Majeure . ii. Imprevision,Weg fall der Geschaftsgrundlage, changed circumstances and other hardship principles. J. CISG article 79 and hardship K. CISG article 79 as an autonomous legal principle Chapter 4. Getting It right: relative Uniformity in the treatment of article 79 in Domestic courts and arbitrations a. article 79 Jurisprudence in Domestic courts and arbitrations: civil law Dominance b. Austria: The supreme court gets it right - almost c. Bulgaria: avoiding the Domestic law bias D. China: Early concerns of the homeward trend ill-founded . i. Force Majeure in China ii. article 79 Jurisprudence under CIETAC iii. article 79(1) impediments and non-conforming goods iv. The impediment requirement under article 79(1) V. particular impediments: breach by Third-party suppliers . E. Finland: a small contribution towards relative uniformity f. Germany: mastery of CISG Jurisprudence i. The Evolution of Excuses for non-performance: from Weg fall der Geschaftsgrundlage to an international standard in article 79 . ii. article 79 in Germany: general observations iii. The pre-Eminent treatment of article 79 in Germany . iv. article 79(1) impediments and non-conforming goods v. product non-conformity as an impediment?: The Vine Wax case vi. product non-conformity as an impediment?: The Powdered Milk case vii. The strict impediment requirement under article 79(1) viii. miscellaneous article 79 issues in German case law: additions to the Quest for relative uniformity ix. sophisticated understanding of article 79 in German case law g. Greece: autonomous interpretation as the rule h. Hungary: A small contribution to relative uniformity i. international chamber of commerce: international Expertise on article 79 i. article 79 Jurisprudence in arbitrations: complementing procedure and substance . ii. The ICC cases: a nuanced understanding of article 79 J. Italy: "Enlightened" article 79 case law . K. The Netherlands: a favourable reception of the CISG l. Russian arbitrations and CISG article 79: The cases promoting uniformity . i. article 79(1): The high standard for impediments ii. particular impediments: non-conforming goods . iii. particular impediments: foreign currency controls m. Slovak republic: right outcome; Wrong reference n. Switzerland: paying heed to the international character of the CISG . o. conclusion . Chapter 5. Getting It Wrong: Divergence in article 79 case Law in Domestic courts and arbitrations a. Threats to autonomous interpretations i. blips on the road to autonomous interpretations: Austria and CIETAC ii. blips on the road to autonomous interpretations: ICC case 8790 . iii. blips on the road to autonomous interpretations: Slovak Frozen Peas case b. Belgium: similar issue; mixed results i. circumventing article 79: The supreme court upholds the "hardship" principle c. France: flawed article 79 Jurisprudence . D. Russian arbitrations and CISG article 79: The problematic cases . i. a high standard to "impediments" but imperfect Decisions . E. united states of America: The homeward trend revisited f. conclusion . Chapter 6. conclusion a. article 79: heeding the interpretive provision of article 7 b. article 79: The appropriate standard in international commerce Appendix A: CISG Article 79 Table of Authorities Index .