CISG第79条下的履行不能与艰难情形:语境与解释

Impossibility and Hardship under CISG Article 79:Its Context and Interpretation

本文将探讨《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》(CISG)所规定的免责条款,并研究适用CISG第79条履行障碍的有关案例。本文要研究的问题是,是否第79条'履行障碍'一词涵盖情事变更、履行不实际以及艰难情形?抑或,其仅限于履行不能、不可抗力等'绝对'免责?文章在简要阐述德国法、美国法以及国际统一私法协会(UNIDROIT)《国际商事合同通则》(PICC)、《欧洲合同法通则》(PECL)的免责规定基础上,详尽分析了一系列适用CISG的案例,借以明晰第79条所提及和未提及的概念和问题,例如,'控制范围'和'风险分配'的重要性,利用'意外事件'来判定是否构成履行障碍,是否交付不符货物也构成履行障碍免责事由,以及基于给予免责目的,某一事件是否可以是可预见但却未预见(foreseeable and yet not foreseen)的。

T his article will examine the law of excuse as espoused in the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods(CISG).It will examine the relevant case law applying the doctrine of impediment in CISG Article 79.T he question posed in this analysis is whether the word“impediment”includes changed circumstances,impracticability,and cases of hardship?Or,does the impediment doctrine of Article 79 limit exemptions to“absolute”excuse(impossibility,force majeure).A brief review of German and American legal is provided,as well excuse under the UNIDROIT’s Principles of International Commercial Contracts and the Principles of European Contract Law.An examination of the CISG case law is undertaken to determine the concepts and issues addressed or left unaddressed by Article 79,such as,the importance of“sphere of control”and“allocation of risk”;use of an“extraordinary event”approach to determine impediment;whether the delivery of defective goods is a ground for impediment;and whether an event can be both foreseeable and yet not foreseen for purposes of granting an exemption from liability.