This book covers the most important legal issues when conducting business abroad.
The first part covers European law with a focus on the institutions of the European Union, the four freedoms and competition law.
The second part focuses on individual international contracts. This part starts with the legal environment of the business transaction. The political and policy risks of doing business abroad are explained, as well as how they should be addressed. It continues with entry strategies in foreign markets and then goes on to focus on the individual contract of sale. A wide range of subjects are covered, including general conditions of sale, retention of title, the CISG, product safety and product liability, Incoterms, contract of carriage, jurisdiction, choice of law and arbitration, standard contract clauses and payment conditions.
This book takes a practical approach and contains examples and exercises. The book does not pretend to be the ultimate guide: the field of international commercial law in particular is vast, and has many different angels. However, it does try to explain the main pitfalls of doing business in foreign countries and how to avoid them.
Additional information about the book can be found on: www.iclandeulaw.com. The author has written two other legal text books:
• on legal skills Juridische vaardigheden voor het Hoger Onderwijs, www.juridischevaardigheden.nl
• and on sports law Inleiding sport en recht, www.inleidingsportenrecht.nl
Both are in Dutch.
The author has written two other legal text books:
• on legal skills Juridische vaardigheden voor het Hoger Onderwijs, www.juridischevaardigheden.nl
• and on sports law Inleiding sport en recht, www.inleidingsportenrecht.nl
Both are in Dutch.
Preface
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Part 1. Risks related to the environment of the transaction
1.1 Risks in international trade
1.2 Credit insurance
1.3 Features of credit insurance
Part 2. International contract of sale
Chapter 2
EUROPEAN LAW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Institutions of the EU
2.3 Other international courts
2.4 European legislation
2.5 Multiple choice
2.6 Cases
Chapter 3
EUROPEAN LAW: THE FOUR FREEDOMS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The free movement of goods, Articles 28-30, 34-36 and 110 TFEU
3.3 The free movement of persons, Articles 45-55 TFEU
3.4 The free movement of services, Articles 56-62 TFEU
3.5 The free movement of capital, Articles 63-66 TFEU
3.6 Multiple choice
3.7 Cases
Chapter 4
COMPETITION LAW
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Agreements distorting, preventing or restricting competition, Article 101 TFEU
4.3 Abuse of dominant position, Article 102 TFEU
4.4 Merger control
4.5 State aid, Article 107 TFEU
4.6 Multiple choice
4.7 Cases
Chapter 5
ENTRY STRATEGIES
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Agent
5.3 Distribution agreement
5.4 Multiple choice
5.5 Cases
Chapter 6
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SALE
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Do GCS apply to the contract?
6.3 Which GCS apply to a contract?
6.4 Multiple choice
6.5 Cases
Chapter 7
RETENTION OF TITLE
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Simple retention of title clause
7.3 All monies or all sums retention of title
7.4 Extended retention of title
7.5 Multiple choice
7.6 Cases
Chapter 8
THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Content of CISG
8.3 Committing a breach of contract
8.4 Multiple choice
8.5 Cases
Chapter 9
PRODUCT SAFETY AND PRODUCT LIABILITY
9.1 Product recall
9.2 Product liability
9.3 Multiple choice
9.4 Cases
Chapter 10
INCOTERMS
10.1 Introduction: Incoterms 2010
10.2 EXW: Ex Works
10.3 F-terms
10.4 C-terms
10.5 D-terms
10.6 Free on Board (FOB) and Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)
10.7 Multiple choice
10.8 Cases
Chapter 11
CONTRACT OF CARRIAGE
11.1 Introduction
11.2 General principles of contract of carriage
11.3 Sea carriage
11.4 Air carriage
11.5 Road carriage
11.6 Multiple choice
11.7 Cases
Chapter 12
JURISDICTION AND ARBITRATION
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Scope Article 1 Brussels I recast
12.3 Rules on jurisdiction
12.4 Deviation from the general rule
12.5 To execute a court judgment in another country
12.6 Multiple choice
12.7 Cases
Chapter 13
APPLICABLE LAW
13.1 Introduction
13.2 The scope of Rome I
13.3 Law applicable to a tort or other non-contractual obligations (Rome II)
13.4 Multiple choice
13.5 Cases
13.6 Multiple choice integrating Chapters 8, 12 and 13
13.7 Cases integrating Chapters 8, 12 and 13
Chapter 14
STANDARD CONTRACT CLAUSES
14.1 An entire agreement clause
14.2 Force majeure and frustration
14.3 Severability clause
14.4 No assignment clause
14.5 Multiple choice
14.6 Cases
Chapter 15
PAYMENT CONDITIONS
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Payment in advance
15.3 Payment in open account
15.4 Cheque
15.5 Bill of exchange
15.6 Letter of credit or Documentary Collection
15.7 Standard forms of documentation
15.8 Types of letter of credit
15.9 Common defects in letter of credit documentation
15.10 Risks using letter of credit
15.11 Documentary Collection
15.12 Multiple choice
15.13 Cases
Jurisprudence