The UCP as a Choice of Non-State Law in International Commercial Contracts

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2022/v25i0a14579

Keywords:

Hague Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts, non-state law, choice of law, Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, governing law of the agreement, private international law

Abstract

The article analyses the UCP as a form of non-State law. It demonstrates that in some courts the UCP may inadvertently be applied as the governing law of the agreement instead of as contractual terms. The article proceeds to analyse the UCP against article 3 of the Hague Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts as well as along a set of criteria, developed by the author, that endeavours to provide certainty in the choice of non-State law. On the basis of the application of the above criteria the article comes to the conclusion that the UCP would be suitable as a choice of governing law of the agreement.

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Author Biography

Faadhil Adams, University of Cape Town

Senior Lecturer, Department of Commercial Law, University of Cape Town, South Africa

References

Bibliography

Literature

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Case law

Canada

Bank of Nova Scotia v Angelica-Whitewear Ltd et al 36 DLR (4th) 161 (1987)

China

Lianyungang Koufu Food Co Ltd v Industrial Bank of Korea Seoul and Bank of China 30 December 2002, Nanjing Intermediate People's Court; 23 December 2003 Jiangsu Higher People's Court

England

Co-operative Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerleenbank BA ("Rabobank Nederland") v The Sumitomo Bank Ltd 1988 WL 62281

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United City Merchants (Investments) Ltd v Royal Bank of Canada [1979] 1 Lloyd's Rep 267 and [1979] 2 Lloyd's Rep 498 (Queen's Bench)

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Germany

BGH 1992 WM 927 (German Federal Court)

Netherlands

Dutch Hoge Raad, 1977 NJ No 209

South Africa

Casey v First Rand Bank Ltd 2014 2 SA 374 (SCA)

F ADAMS PER / PELJ 2022 (25) 24

Ex Parte Sapan Trading (Pty) Ltd 1995 1 SA 218 (W)

Loomcraft Fabrics CC v Nedbank Ltd 1996 1 SA 812 (A)

Phillips v Standard Bank of South Africa 1985 3 SA 301 (W)

Transcontinental Procurement Services cc v ZVL & ZKL International AS 2000 CLR 67 (W)

Union Carriage and Wagon Co Ltd v Nedcor Bank Ltd 1996 CLR 724 (W)

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First City, Texas-Houston NA v Gnat Robot Corporation 813 SW 2d 230 (1991)

Maritime Midlands Grace Trust Co v Banco del Pais 261 F Supp 884 (SDNY 1966)

Sztejn v Henry Schroder Banking Corporation 31 NYS 2d 631 (1941)

Legislation

China

Conflicts Law Statute, 2010

General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, 1986

South Africa

General Law Amendment Act 50 of 1956

United States of America

Uniform Commercial Code (1952)

International instruments

Hague Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts (2015)

ICC Rules for the Use of Domestic and International Trade Terms: INCOTERMS (1936), as last updated in 2020

UNIDROIT Principles on International Commercial Contracts (2016)

Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1933), as last amended in 2007

United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980)

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Supreme People's Court 2005 Announcement of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China http://www.asianlii.org/

Published

27-10-2022

How to Cite

Adams, F. (2022). The UCP as a Choice of Non-State Law in International Commercial Contracts. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 25, (Published 27 October 2022) pp 1 – 26. https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2022/v25i0a14579

Issue

Section

Special Edition: Festschrift - Charl Hugo

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