英文合同中不可抗力條款的約定

精品文檔 1歡迎下載 英文合同中不可抗力條款的約定 一 什么是不可抗力條款 Force Majeure Clause 合同一經(jīng)制定 合約雙方都希望能夠按照合同規(guī)定順利履行合同 但是有時(shí)因情勢(shì)變更 往往會(huì)出現(xiàn)一些出乎當(dāng)事人意料的事情發(fā)生 而導(dǎo)致當(dāng)事人無法履行合同 這種由于當(dāng)事 人所不能控制的事故而導(dǎo)致合同不能履行的 即是不可抗力 Force Majeure 合同中關(guān) 于這一事項(xiàng)的約定的條款就是不可抗力條款 Force Majeure Clause 該條款實(shí)際 上也是一項(xiàng)免責(zé)條款 在合同簽訂后 不是由于當(dāng)事人的過失或疏忽 而是由于發(fā)生了當(dāng) 事人所不能預(yù)見的 無法避免和無法預(yù)防的意外事故 以致不能履行或不能如期履行合同 遭受意外事故的一方可以免除履行合同的責(zé)任或可以延期履行合同 另一方無權(quán)要求損害 賠償 Force Majeure 一詞來自于 法國(guó)民法典 第 1148 條 英文譯為 There is no occasion for damages where in consequence of force majure or accident the debtor has been prevented from conveying or doing that to which he has obliged or has done what he was debarred from doing 牛津法律詞典 是這樣解釋的 Irresistible compulsion or coercion The phrase is used particularly in commercial contracts to describe events possibly affecting the contract and that are completely outside the parties control Such events are normally listed in full to ensure their enforceability their may be include acts of God fires failure of suppliers or subcontractors to supply the suppliers under the agreement and strikes and other labour disputes that interfere with the suppliers performance of an agreement An express clause would normally excuse both delay and a total failure to perform the agreement 二 不可抗力條款的基本內(nèi)容 一般來說 不可抗力條款中應(yīng)當(dāng)包括以下幾個(gè)方面的內(nèi)容 1 不可抗力發(fā)生的原因 種類 2 不可抗力發(fā)生后通知對(duì)方的期限 通知的方法以及應(yīng)當(dāng)提交的證明文件 3 不可抗力發(fā)生的免責(zé)事項(xiàng)及善后處理事項(xiàng) 一 不可抗力發(fā)生的原因 種類 對(duì)于不可抗力條款 約定的越詳細(xì)越好 有些合同 為了省事 往往只是籠統(tǒng)地規(guī)定 This contract is subject to force majeure clause 合同根據(jù)不可抗力條款訂定 這是相當(dāng)粗糙的 因?yàn)閷?duì)于什么是 不可抗力 哪些情況屬于不可抗力 不同的人理解 是不一樣的 有些情況對(duì)于處于不同法律地位的當(dāng)事人來說 并不認(rèn)為是不可抗力 所以 不可抗力發(fā)生后 一旦有糾紛就會(huì)無所適從 并非所有的意外事故都可以視為不可抗力而免除當(dāng)事人的履行合同的義務(wù) 所以對(duì)于哪些 事故足以構(gòu)成不可抗力 從而免除當(dāng)事人履行合同的義務(wù) 自然而然地就有必要加以明確 精品文檔 2歡迎下載 的約定 以免發(fā)生紛歧爭(zhēng)執(zhí) 那么在不可抗力條款中 應(yīng)當(dāng)不厭其煩地一項(xiàng)一項(xiàng)的羅列出 來 一般而言 下列事項(xiàng)可以構(gòu)成不可抗力 strikes 罷工 lockouts 停工 Acts of God such as floods lightning cyclone hurricane and other storms 天災(zāi)如水災(zāi) 閃電 颶風(fēng)及風(fēng)暴 threat or existence of war blockade embargoes or regulations of any governmental authority 戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)或者戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的威脅 封港 禁運(yùn) 政府管制 other events beyond the control of the parties 其他非人力所能控制的事件 plague pestilence disease epidemics 疫情 瘟疫 傳染病 civil commotions governmental interference 騷亂 政府干涉 shortage of raw materials or other supplies 原料短缺 fires explosions destruction or damage to seller s plant or machinery 賣 方工廠或生產(chǎn)設(shè)備遭受火災(zāi) 爆炸 破壞或者損壞 shortage of transportation or inability to obtain freight space 無運(yùn)輸工具 或者艙位 other labor troubles or disturbances 其他工人騷擾 其中有些事項(xiàng)是要有約定 才可以做為不可抗力 比如 還有機(jī)器停頓故障 財(cái)政 來源不足 成本上高漲 第三者的不履行導(dǎo)致的 另外如果是國(guó)有企業(yè)做為合同的一方 還應(yīng)當(dāng)注意一些事項(xiàng) 比如政府干預(yù) 無法獲得出口證 進(jìn)口證書或者其他涉及到政府的 事項(xiàng) 因?yàn)橹袊?guó)是公有制國(guó)家 外方一般不將國(guó)有企業(yè)無法獲得相當(dāng)政府文件作為不可抗 力 二 不可抗力的通知 Force Majeure 條文要規(guī)定由于發(fā)生不可抗力而無法履行合同義務(wù)的一方在特定的期限 內(nèi)向?qū)Ψ酵ㄖ?因?yàn)椴豢煽沽κ录坏┌l(fā)生 導(dǎo)致一方當(dāng)事人無法履行合同時(shí) 應(yīng)當(dāng)盡快 通知對(duì)方當(dāng)事人 如果不及時(shí)通知對(duì)方 置之不理 導(dǎo)致對(duì)方遭受更大損失時(shí) 仍然不能 完全免除其責(zé)任 如這樣約定 In the event of any such causes arising the party affected shall give prompt notice to the other party of the cause 因?yàn)椴豢煽沽κ录陌l(fā)生 而導(dǎo)致合同不能按約履行時(shí) 當(dāng)事人應(yīng)當(dāng)迅速通知對(duì)方當(dāng)事人 外 必要時(shí)還得向?qū)Ψ教峁┳C明文件 這些證明文件通常有以下幾種 1 當(dāng)?shù)厣虝?huì)或者工會(huì)出具的證明 精品文檔 3歡迎下載 2 對(duì)方國(guó)家駐當(dāng)事人所在地領(lǐng)事館出具的證明 3 關(guān)于該不可抗力事件新聞報(bào)道 4 其他有證明力的證明 如這樣約定 In the event of any such cause arising documents proving their occurrence or existence shall be submitted by the party to the other party without delay 三 不可抗力發(fā)生后的處理 因?yàn)椴豢煽沽Πl(fā)生后 導(dǎo)致合同不能順利履行時(shí) 是否就即免除當(dāng)事人的違約責(zé)任呢 或者是推遲合同的履行期限呢 能否替代履行呢 這些都與當(dāng)事人雙方的利益密切相關(guān) 所以在簽訂合同時(shí) 應(yīng)當(dāng)充分考慮 比如在國(guó)際貨物買賣中可以做如下的約定 The contract is automatically cancelled as to any unshipped portion in the event that force majeure clause becomes operative 這樣規(guī)定 如果發(fā)生了不可抗力事件 對(duì)于未裝船的貨賣方不能也沒有責(zé)任再去裝船 同 時(shí)買方也無權(quán)要求賣方承擔(dān)損害賠償 在這種條款下 如果賣方還沒有生產(chǎn) 備貨 解除 合同 對(duì)他就不會(huì)有什么影響 但是如果貨物已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好了 只是因一時(shí)的不可抗力 就 解除合同 就難免要遭受損失 所以有些買賣合同中的不可抗力條款進(jìn)一步規(guī)定 如果 因?yàn)橐馔馐录绊?不能按期裝運(yùn)時(shí) 買方同意將裝運(yùn)期限順延一百天 期滿后 如還是 不能裝運(yùn)時(shí) 買方有權(quán)解除合同 當(dāng)然順延的期限不能漫無限制 否則買方將會(huì)處于被 動(dòng)之情境 一般情況下 為了顧及公平合理 一方面賦予一方當(dāng)事人合理的延長(zhǎng)期限 以便其有履 行合同的機(jī)會(huì) 延長(zhǎng)期滿后 另外一方當(dāng)事人可以解除合同 以免處于久懸未決的狀態(tài) 對(duì)此 華沙 牛津規(guī)則 有這樣的規(guī)定 The seller shall not be responsible for delay or failure to ship the goods contracted to be sold or any part thereof or to deliver such goods or any part thereof into the custody of the carrier as the case may be arising from force majeure or from any extraordinary causes accidents or hindrances of what kind soever or wheresoever or the consequences thereof which it was impossible in the circumstances for the seller to have foreseen or averted In the event of any of the said causes accidents or hindrances preventing hindering or impeding the production the manufacture the delivery to the seller or the 精品文檔 4歡迎下載 shipment of the goods contracted to be sold or any part thereof or the chartering of any vessel or part of vessel notice thereof shall be given to the buyer by the seller and on such notice being given the time for shipment or delivery into the custody of the carrier as the case may be shall be extended until the operation of the cause accident or hindrance preventing hindering or impeding the production the manufacture the delivery to the seller or the shipment of the said goods or any part thereof or the chartering of any vessel or part of vessel has ceased But if any of these causes accidents or hindrances continues for more than fourteen days from the time or from the expiration of the period if any specified in the contract of sale for the shipment of the goods or their delivery into the custody of the carrier as the case may be or if no such time or period has been specified in the contract then from the expiration of the reasonable time contemplated in Rule 3 the whole contract of sale or such part thereof as shall remain to be fulfilled by the seller may at the option of either party be determined such option shall be exercised and notice to that effect shall be given by either party to the other party at any time during the seven days next succeeding the period of fourteen days hereinbefore mentioned but not thereafter And on such notice being given neither party shall have any claim against the other party in respect of such determination 由于不可抗力 任何特殊原因 事故 或者由于不論何種或何處發(fā)生的阻礙 或由此而 產(chǎn)生的結(jié)果 為當(dāng)時(shí)賣方所不能預(yù)見或避免 以致賣方延遲或未能裝運(yùn)全部或部分訂售貨 物或者延遲或未能將全部或部分訂售貨物 交給承運(yùn)人保管 賣方對(duì)此將不負(fù)責(zé)任 如果上述原因 事故或障礙 阻止 妨礙或耽誤了全部或部分訂售貨物的生產(chǎn) 制造 交 給賣方或裝船 或者全部或部分船只的租賃 賣方應(yīng)將有關(guān)情況通知買方 此項(xiàng)通知一經(jīng) 發(fā)出 裝船時(shí)間或交給承運(yùn)人保管的時(shí)間應(yīng)展延到上述原因 事故或障礙解除時(shí)為止 但 是上述那些原因 事故或障礙 如延續(xù)超過買賣合同規(guī)定的裝船或交給承運(yùn)人保管的日期 或截止期限十四天 如果合同沒有規(guī)定此項(xiàng)裝船或交給承運(yùn)人保管的日期或截止期限 則 按第三條規(guī)定預(yù)計(jì)合理的期限截止時(shí)計(jì)算 全部或部分合同是否仍由賣方履行 可由買 賣當(dāng)事人的任何一方選擇決定 對(duì)此 任何一方都可在上述十四天后的七天內(nèi)進(jìn)行抉擇并 通知對(duì)方 此項(xiàng)通知發(fā)出后 任何一方將無權(quán)由于此項(xiàng)抉擇而對(duì)另一方提出索賠要求 三 不可抗力條款的實(shí)例 1 THE ICC MODEL INTERNATIONAL SALE CONTRACT Manufactured Goods Intended for Resale 國(guó)際商會(huì) 國(guó)際貨物銷售合同范本 僅用于旨在轉(zhuǎn)售的制成品 第 13 款 精品文檔 5歡迎下載 Art 13 Force majeure 13 1 A party is not liable for a failure to perform any of his obligations in SO far as he proves a that the failure was due to an impediment beyond his control and b that he could not reasonable be expected to have taken the impediment and its effects upon his ability to perform into account at the time of the conclusion of the contract and c that he could not reasonably have avoided or overcome it or its effects 13 2 A party seeking relief shall as soon as practicable after the impediment and its effects upon his ability to perform become known to him give notice to the other party of such impediment and its effects on his ability to perform Notice shall also be given when the ground of relief ceases Failure to give either notice makes the party thus fmling liable in damages for loss which otherwise could have been avoided 13 3 Without prejudice to article 10 2 a ground of relief under this clause relieves the party failing to perform from liability in damages from penalties and other contractual sanctions form the duty to pay interest on money owing as long aS and to the extent that the ground subsists 13 4 If the grounds of relief subsist for more than six months either party shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice 第 13 條 不可抗力 13 1 一方當(dāng)事人對(duì)其未履行義務(wù)可不負(fù)責(zé)任 如果他能證明 a 不能履行義務(wù)是由非他所能控制的障礙所致 及 b 在訂立合同時(shí) 不能合理預(yù)見到他已把這一障礙及其對(duì)他履約的能力產(chǎn)生影響考慮 在內(nèi) 以及 C 他不能合理地避免或克服該障礙或其影響 13 2 請(qǐng)求免責(zé)的一方當(dāng)事人 在他知道了此項(xiàng)障礙及其對(duì)他履約能力的影響之后 應(yīng)以實(shí)際可能的速度盡快通知另一方當(dāng)事人此項(xiàng)障礙及其對(duì)他履約能力的影響 當(dāng)免責(zé)的 原因消除時(shí)也應(yīng)發(fā)出通知 如果未能發(fā)出任一通知 則該當(dāng)事人應(yīng)承擔(dān)其原可避免的損失賠償責(zé)任 精品文檔 6歡迎下載 13 3 在不影響第 10 2 條效力的前提下 本款下的免責(zé)理由 只要且僅在此限度內(nèi) 該免責(zé)事由繼續(xù)存在 可使未履約方得以免除損害賠償之責(zé)任 免除處罰及其他約定的罰 金 免除所欠款項(xiàng)利息支付之責(zé)任 13 4 若免責(zé)的原因持續(xù)存在 6 個(gè)月以上 任何一方均有權(quán)不經(jīng)過通知對(duì)方即可終止合同 2 以下這個(gè)案例是筆者制作的英文合同中的不可抗力條款 首先對(duì)不可抗力進(jìn)行定義 Force Majeure means Circumstances beyond the control of the Party affected including but not limited to an Act of God strike lockout or other industrial disturbance accident act of the public enemy war whether declared or not sabotage blockade revolution public riot lightning fire storm flood drought earthquake landslide explosion governmental restraint or action shortage or unavailability of equipment material or labour or restrictions thereof or limitations upon the use thereof delays in transportation caused by anyone of the aforementioned circumstances and any other cause whether of the kind specifically enumerated above or otherwise which is not within the control of the Party affected by such event 不可抗力事件 為受影響的一方所無法控制的情形 包括但不限于自然的不可抗力 罷 工 停工 企業(yè)主為抵制工人的要求而停工 或其他的工業(yè)上的滋擾和事故 公敵行為 戰(zhàn) 爭(zhēng) 不管有無聲明 陰謀破壞 封鎖 革命 公眾騷亂 閃電 火災(zāi) 風(fēng)暴 水災(zāi) 旱 災(zāi) 地震 山體滑坡 爆炸 政府管制或行動(dòng) 設(shè)備出現(xiàn)故障而不能使用 材料和勞動(dòng)力 的短缺 或受限 由上述任一原因或其他受影響方無法控制的原因而導(dǎo)致的延期裝運(yùn) 接著約定不可抗力事件發(fā)生后的通知 The Party affected by an Event of Force Majeure shall provide the other Party with full details as soon as he becomes aware of the Event of Force Majeure including a best estimate of the likely extent and duration of the interference with his activities The affected Party will take all steps which are commercially reas