International Trade Law
AT THE END OF THIS SEMESTER,
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
- Describe the basic principles of law and the specific legal rules relevant to international sales of goods and the carriage of goods
- Evaluate critically the current state of the law;
- Explain and evaluate any relevant proposals for reform of the law in the area of international sales and the international carriage of goods;
- Apply the principles of law to factual situations and resolve the legal issues suggested by them;
- Explain the nature of relationships with parties such as banks and insurance to those dealing in international trade and transport; and
- Become conversant with the terminology relevant to the concepts and documentation used in the area of international sales and carriage of goods.
Curriculum includes
Unit 1
Introduction and context of International Sales
- Nature and problems of the private law of international trade; the trade context including Incoterms
- the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
Unit 2
FOB and CIF Contracts
- Detailed rules of English law on international sales with particular reference to FOB and CIF contracts
- including the role of documents in facilitating the flow of trade and transport by sea.
Unit 3
Documentation in international transport
- his will consider the role of principal sea contract transport documentation such as the bills of lading in its various functions to transfer receipt contractual as well as evidentiary rights to third parties
- An important aspect will be the transfer of rights of suit to third parties to conform to English Law principles of privity of contract.
Unit 4
Sale of Goods Act 1979
- The nature and relevance of the Sale of Goods Act in its application to international sales
- including concepts of transfer of property, risks, contractual terms and remedies for breach
Unit 5
Marine Insurance of international trade and transport
- This component will examine the nature of marine insurance for risks in the transport of cargoes in international trade by sea carriage modes.
Unit 6
Electronic documentation for sea transport
- The evolution of international trade and transport is increasingly being facilitated by the use of electronic documentation
- This component will explore the legal rights and duties of parties including the sea carrier, and other intermediaries such as banks and insurance providers involved in the flow of trade between parties engaged in international trade and transport.
Unit 7
International sea transport Conventions Hague Visby Rules & Rotterdam Rules
- This component will cover legal rules concerning the liabilities and rights of carriers for international transport and the relationships with shippers, consignors and consignees with regard to their duties in contract
- This component will cover legal rules concerning the liabilities and rights of carriers for international transport and the relationships with shippers, consignors and consignees with regard to their duties in contract
Unit 8
International Trade Finance
- Since trade finance is an important component of international trade, this component will examine the nature of documentary flow as well as contractual relations within the context of international trade including also the role of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Unit 9
Freight Forwarding and Logistics Contracts
- The component will explain the nature of rights, duties and obligations of third parties in international trade and transport including their use of relevant documents to define their roles.
- This will also include reference to role of international bodies such as BIFA and the International Chamber of Commerce.