Urgent 3000 words
COMPARATIVE CONTRACT LAW FOR INTERNATIONAL
TRANSACTIONS
Essay
Deadline: Monday, 30 November 2021
Essay length: The word-limit for this essay is 3000 words. There is an allowance
up to 10% either way. The word-limit does not include title page, footnotes,
and bibliography.
Referencing should follow the OSCOLA style.
Midcity Air (M) is an English company producing innovative heating units and is
planning to expand its business in Europe.
It has successfully negotiated a contract with a retail company (hereinafter, the
Buyer), for the sale of 400 heating units, to be delivered by 1 September 2021.
Given the Buyer’s long business experience in Ruritania, the parties also agreed
that the Buyer becomes the exclusive distributor of Midcity Air in Ruritania.
The contract has been formed under Buyer’s general terms and conditions
which include the following clause:
In case of a delay in the delivery of the goods, Buyer is entitled to terminate the
contract and the Seller is obliged to pay double compensation for the losses
caused by the delay.
Furthermore, the parties agreed that the general principles of international
commercial law (lex mercatoria) should apply to their contract and the courts
of Ruritania have exclusive jurisdiction over their disputes.
Ruritania is a small European state that has adopted the CISG, and its courts
recognise lex mercatoria as applicable to cross-border commercial contracts.
Following an increase in the cost of raw materials between 5% and 20% over the
summer, M refused to deliver the goods at the agreed price and asked for a
renegotiation of the contract price, arguing that the cost increase exceeds the
normal fluctuations in the relevant marketplace.
The Buyer refused to renegotiate and brought action against M, seeking
compensation for material loss and loss of profit, as well as the payment of a
penalty provided for in the contract in the event of delay in delivery.
Midcity Air is shocked by this turn of events and asks for your advice on their
contractual position.
In view of this experience and in preparation for their further European
expansion, M also seeks your advice on including the following clauses in their
forthcoming contracts with other European retail companies.
(1) Prices are based on present day costs of manufacture and design and having
regard to the delivery quoted and uncertainty as to the cost of labour,
materials etc. during the period of manufacture, we regret that we have no
alternative but to make it a condition of acceptance of order that goods will
be charged at prices ruling upon date of delivery.
(2) The Buyer shall not be entitled to withhold payment of any amount due to
Midcity Air under the Contract by reason of any payment credit, set off,
counterclaim, allegation of incorrect or defective goods, or for any other
reason whatsoever which the Buyer may allege excuses him from performing
his obligations hereunder.
b) German; c) French law; d) the law of a further European jurisdiction of
your choice.
- COMPARATIVE CONTRACT LAW FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
- Midcity Air is shocked by this turn of events and asks for your advice on their contractual position.
In particular, they ask whether these clauses are enforceable under a) English;