《民法典合同编通则解释》的理解与适用

On Understanding and Application of the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code

原《合同法》及相关司法解释废止后时隔三年,《民法典合同编通则解释》在各界期盼中发布施行。在适用范围上,《民法典合同编通则解释》既适用于合同纠纷案件,也适用于非合同纠纷案件,除非依其性质不能适用;在覆盖内容上,《民法典合同编通则解释》内容丰富、亮点纷呈、形式创新,条文与司法案例配套同步出台,可形成组合效应;在时间效力上,《民法典合同编通则解释》可以溯及既往;在思维方法上,《民法典合同编通则解释》尊重立法原意,不作创新性续造,思路清晰,结构合理,方法科学。此外,为帮助正确理解适用《民法典合同编通则解释》的相关条款,还对譬如从无到有的情势变更条款的前世今生、前因后果及其与不可抗力的区别和联系作了梳理分析,并提出了修改完善《海商法》的立法建议。

After the promulgation of the Civil Code,the Interpretation of Certain Issues Concerning the Application of the Contract Law(Part Ⅰ and Ⅱ)were abolished.The Supreme People’s Court formulated the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code,which came into effect on December 5,2023.It is applicable not only to contract dispute cases,but also to disputes over rights and obligations arising from non-contractual relationship.Moreover,both the courts and arbitration institutions can apply it when trying cases.The Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code presents nine highlights:First,it inherits and develops the relevant provisions of the Interpretation of Certain Issues Concerning the Application of the Contract Law(Part Ⅰ and Ⅱ),maintaining the stability of judicial order.Second,it develops the contract law system on the basis of new ideas,new laws,new situations,new achievements,and new experiences.Third,taking into account the purposes of civil legislation,administrative legislation,and criminal legislation,and drawing on the principle of proportionality in public law,detailed provisions have been made for paragraph 1 of Article 153 of the Civil Code concerning the effectiveness of contracts.Fourth,based on the provisions of Article 215 concerning the principle of distinction,detailed provisions have been made for the effectiveness of contracts concluded without the right to dispose.Fifth,the agency and representation system has been improved,emphasizing the reasonable examination obligation of the relative party.Sixth,the effectiveness of debt-in-kind agreement has been clarified,and the rules of right for simultaneous performance has been detailed.Seventh,the specific circumstances of“significant changes”in the change of circumstances have been detailed.Eighth,the relevant provisions of subrogation rights and revocation rights have been detailed,strengthening the protection of creditors.Ninth,the relevant rules of setoff right and the calculation rules of benefits have been detailed.Since the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code is an interpretation of the Civil Code,its effectiveness can be retroactive.That is,from the date when the Civil Code came into effect,the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code can be used as a basis for judgment.The interpretation of the general provisions of the Civil Code in the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code can be traced back to the effective date of the original General Provisions of the Civil Law.The formulation of the Interpretation on Contract Part of the Civil Code requires attention to the following issues:First,it is important to maintain problem awareness,with the problems arising in the process of legal application;second,it is essential to realise that judicial interpretations are mainly intended for judges,prosecutors,lawyers,arbitrators,and other legal professionals;third,a comprehensive application of interpretive methods such as literal interpretation,teleological interpretation,historical interpretation,and systematic interpretation should be employed to accurately understand the core of the general provisions of the contract part of the Civil Code,aiming to stabilize contractual expectations.Furthermore,it is recommended that when amending the relevant provisions of contracts for the carriage of goods by sea and carriage of passengers in the Maritime Code,coordination should be maintained with the three legal facts established in the Civil Code:force majeure,change of circumstances,and commercial risks,and the situations of“other reasons”and“inherent reasons”should be specified,with a view to harmonizing the relationship between the Maritime Code as a special law and the Civil Code as a general law.