试析《国际统一私法协会国际商事合同通则》的性质和功能

On the Nature and Functions of the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts

《国际统一私法协会国际商事合同通则》(简称《通则》)依其设计具有六种功能。实证分析表明,《通则》作为国际商事合同准据法的功能和作为解释工具的功能都得到了一定程度的实现。《通则》已经是现实中的实在法,是一种优良的法律资源。从《通则》的功能看其性质,可以将《通则》定性为特殊的合同法国际重述,即:《通则》是可以作为国际商事合同适用法的、部分内容可以视为国际商事惯例之成文编纂的、法典化的国际商事合同法重述。《通则》的出现使国际商法的发展进程产生了质的飞跃。我国法院、仲裁庭和企业可以考虑改变对通则的态度,从漠视转为积极运用。

The UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts （PICC） has six functions. An empirical study indicates that the functions of PICC serving as the governing law and as interpreting means have been realized in some way. PICC has become positive law and is regarded as a high-quality legal resource. Based on its functions, the nature of PICC may be deemed as a special restatement of contract law in the international environment, i.e. a codified restatement, which can be used as applicable law in international commercial contracts, and some provisions of which can be held as codification of international commercial usages and customs. The emergence of PICC is a substantial and decisive step in the developing process of international business law. Chinese courts, arbitral tribunals and enterprises should change their attitude toward PICC and adopt it in a more active manner.