如何在疫情影(yǐng)響下(xià)順利交易，問題出現時(shí)有效規避風險、減小自身損失？這(zhè)裏僅就因疫情可(kě)能造成的(de)幾個(gè)常見問題，尤其是合同遲延履行所涉及到的(de)法律實踐分(fēn)享一點看法，希望有所幫助。

How to smoothly trade under the influence of the epidemic, effectively avoid risks and reduce losses when problems arise？The view of legal practice involved in some common problems caused by the epidemic, particularly delayed contract performance shall be shared here, which I hope to be helpful.

一、明(míng)确風險轉移節點。

Defining the risk transfer.

風險的(de)轉移就意味著(zhe)責任歸屬主體的(de)變更。爲了(le)簡化(huà)明(míng)确國際貿易中的(de)交易細節，國際商會制定了(le)《國際貿易術語解釋通(tōng)則》（建議(yì)深究不同版本中貿易術語的(de)不同含義，國際商會剛剛做(zuò)出的(de)Incoterms2020對(duì)不同貿易術語加入了(le)新的(de)含義，不同版本的(de)貿易術語含義有所不同）。打個(gè)比方來(lái)說，Incotems2000 中FOB，當貨物(wù)在指定的(de)裝運港越過船舷時(shí)，賣方完成交貨，風險轉移給買方，賣方不再承擔違約責任。也(yě)就是說，尤其在發生類似于運輸延遲方面的(de)問題的(de)時(shí)候，抛開不可(kě)抗力的(de)問題不談，先看風險轉移節點。

   The transfer of risk means change of the Party with responsibility. In order to simplify and clarify the details of transactions in international trade, the International Chamber of Commerce formulated the (INCOTERMS 2020, which has just been made by the International Chamber of Commerce, adding new connotation to different terms, and different versions of trade terms have different meanings). For example, FOB in Incoterms2000,when the goods delivered pass the ship's rail at the named port of shipment, the delivery by the Seller is completed, the Goods risk is then transferred to the buyer, and the seller no longer bears the liability for breach of contract.That is to say, especially when problems similar to transportation delays occur, put aside the issue of force majeure, look into the risk transfer first.

二、不可(kě)抗力的(de)适用(yòng)。

Application of Force Majeure.

   在貨物(wù)風險尚未轉移時(shí)，不可(kě)回避的(de)就是討(tǎo)論不可(kě)抗力的(de)适用(yòng)。但需要注意的(de)是，不可(kě)抗力的(de)适用(yòng)需要一些條件：

   When the goods risk has not yet passed, the discussion over application of force majeure is inevitable. However, it should be noted that the application of force majeure requires certain conditions:

1.合同約定适用(yòng)。

   鼓勵促成交易和(hé)意思自治的(de)基本原則都會傾向于遵從買賣雙方對(duì)于合同約定明(míng)确内容的(de)遵守。因此，不論國際貿易合同中适用(yòng)什(shén)麽法律，如果雙方明(míng)确約定并準确描述了(le)疫情發生的(de)情形，那麽未能依約履行合同約定義務的(de)一方在适用(yòng)該條款的(de)情況下(xià)免除違約責任。但是，在此情況下(xià)很多(duō)人(rén)忽略的(de)是在适用(yòng)該條款的(de)情況下(xià)應當如何約定後續處理(lǐ)。大(dà)多(duō)數合同内容僅僅是對(duì)于适用(yòng)不可(kě)抗力條款情況下(xià)“雙方協商”等類似内容，而并未約定後續合同應當如何履行。這(zhè)種情況下(xià)如果協商不成易産生争議(yì)。

   我在英國大(dà)律師事務所工作交流期間就遇到過一件此類情形的(de)案件，其中一方是我國一家造船廠。在合同約定不可(kě)抗力适用(yòng)的(de)情況下(xià)，因爲時(shí)間拖延、國際形勢、原油價格等原因緻使合同繼續履行的(de)基礎已經不複存在，合同簽訂目的(de)無法實現，雙方協商不成，緻使買賣雙方進入漫長(cháng)的(de)訴訟程序。

1. The contract agreement applies.

    The basic principles of encouraging facilitating transactions and party autonomy will tend to comply with the explicit content of the contract between buyers and sellers.Therefore, no matter what law applies in international trade contracts, in case two parties explicitly agree and accurately describe the situation of the epidemic, then the party who fails to fulfill the contractual obligations is exempted from liability for breach of contract once the clause applies. However, what many people neglect is how to agree on the subsequent treatment in the case of the application of this clause. Most of the contract content is only for the application of force majeure clause 'negotiation between two parties' and other similar content, but do not include on how the subsequent contract should be performed. In this case, if the consultation fails, it will easily lead to disputes.

I came across a case of this kind when I worked in a British Barrister’s Chamber, one of the parties was a shipyard in China.In the case of force majeure stipulated in the contract, the basis for continuing to perform the contract has ceased to exist due to time delay, international situation, crude oil price and other reasons, the purpose of signing the contract can not be realized, and the negotiation between the two parties fell apart, resulting in the buyer and seller entering a long litigation procedure.

2.法律适用(yòng)。

   如果合同中沒有明(míng)确約定不可(kě)抗力的(de)相關内容，就法律适用(yòng)來(lái)說，這(zhè)裏面分(fēn)爲三種情況。比較明(míng)确的(de)是，如果合同中對(duì)于适用(yòng)法律進行了(le)明(míng)确約定，那麽相對(duì)來(lái)說比較容易處理(lǐ)。

   簡要解釋一下(xià)世界範圍内的(de)法律體系，主要分(fēn)爲大(dà)陸法系和(hé)普通(tōng)法系，又可(kě)以不太嚴謹的(de)稱爲成文法和(hé)判例法以便于理(lǐ)解（其實判例法也(yě)是有成文的(de)法律規定的(de)，這(zhè)裏就不展開了(le)）。成文法國家所依據的(de)法律由立法機關進行制定并發布，而判例法國家是根據以往曾經的(de)判例來(lái)作爲糾紛的(de)判決依據。

（1）适用(yòng)中國法。由于我國法律明(míng)确規定了(le)不可(kě)抗力的(de)具體内容。并且從我國疫情爆發以來(lái)的(de)法律規定解釋來(lái)看，确因疫情原因而影(yǐng)響到合同履行的(de)情況可(kě)以免除違約責任，由雙方另行協商討(tǎo)論未來(lái)合同履行方式。而在适用(yòng)其他(tā)成文法系國家法律的(de)情況下(xià)就需要根據法律規定具體分(fēn)析。

（2）适用(yòng)判例法系國家法律。前面提到，原則上，除合同約定内容以外，沒有具體法律規定約制買賣雙方約定義務。因此也(yě)就不存在明(míng)文規定不可(kě)抗力适用(yòng)，免除違約責任的(de)情形。當然這(zhè)裏面的(de)确有一個(gè)例外，英美(měi)法的(de)合同受阻理(lǐ)論。但是這(zhè)個(gè)理(lǐ)論的(de)适用(yòng)條件過于苛刻，就目前疫情的(de)情況來(lái)看，該理(lǐ)論适用(yòng)的(de)可(kě)能性非常渺茫。

2. Application of law.

   Once there is no clear agreement in the contract in relation to force majeure, there shall be three situations in terms of the application of law. It is clear that if the applicable law is clearly agreed in the contract, it is relatively easy to deal with.

   A brief explanation of the legal system in the world, mainly divided into civil law and common law, and can be less rigorous called statute law and case law to facilitate understanding (in fact, there is also certain written legal provisions in the case law system countries, which shall not be discussed further in this occasion).Statutory law countries are based on the law enacted and issued by the legislature, and the case law countries are based on past precedents as the basis for subsequent disputes.

(1)Application of Chinese law.

    The law of our country clearly stipulates the specific content of force majeure. On top of that, from the interpretation of the legal provisions since the outbreak of the epidemic in China, the situation that affects the performance of the contract due to the epidemic can be exempted from the liability for breach of contract, and the parties can negotiate separately to discuss the way of future contract performance.In the case of applying the laws of other written law countries, it needs to be analyzed in accordance with the legal provisions.

(2) Application of case law system.

    As mentioned earlier, in principle, in addition to the content of the contract, there is no specific legal provision to restrict the contractual obligations of the seller and the buyer.Therefore, there is no explicit provision on the application of force majeure to exempt the liability for breach of contract. Although there is an exception to the common law theory of Contract Frustration.However, the applicable conditions of this theory are too harsh, and the possibility of its application is very slim in the current situation of the epidemic.

3.極端情況下(xià)，合同中并沒有約定疫情不可(kě)抗力以及适用(yòng)法律。

   雙方也(yě)無法就适用(yòng)法律達成一緻的(de)情況下(xià)，就争議(yì)一般采取最密切聯系原則确定适用(yòng)法律。在國内某法院一個(gè)我代理(lǐ)的(de)案件中就有類似的(de)問題，就根據上述原則幫助外方客戶在中國法院适用(yòng)了(le)外國法律。

3.In extreme conditions, the contract does not stipulate the epidemic force majeure and applicable laws.

    In case the two parties can not reach an agreement on the applicable law, the principle of closest connection is generally adopted to determine the applicable law for disputes. In a case I represented in a domestic court, I had similar problems and helped foreign clients apply foreign laws in Chinese courts according to the above principles.

另外多(duō)提一點，如果我方的(de)遲延履行合同義務行爲被認定爲受到不可(kě)抗力影(yǐng)響因而免除違約責任，那麽客戶的(de)解除合同或常說的(de)撤單可(kě)能構成合同的(de)違法解除，因而可(kě)能賦予我方權利向客戶主張違約損失，甚至同時(shí)要求繼續履行合同。

In addition, if our delay in fulfilling contractual obligations is deemed to be affected by force majeure and thus exempted from liability for breach of contract, then the termination of the contract or the cancellation of the order by the client, as often said, may constitute an illegal termination of the contract, which may entitle us to claim damages for breach of contract from the client, or even to continue to perform the contract at the same time.

三、争議(yì)解決方式的(de)選擇

Choice of Dispute Resolution

即使上述法律事實都已确定，也(yě)并不意味著(zhe)結果就沒有任何回旋餘地。這(zhè)也(yě)是爲什(shén)麽争議(yì)解決方式是我們必須涵蓋在合同内容裏面的(de)重要原因。

Even if the above legal facts have been determined, it does not necessarily mean that there is no room for manoeuvre.This is why the dispute resolution is an important reason for us to include it in the contract.

1.訴訟

沒有有效協議(yì)約定商事仲裁的(de)情況下(xià)，争取對(duì)自己有利的(de)訴訟管轄權很關鍵。爲什(shén)麽？一旦通(tōng)過訴訟由法院法官來(lái)審理(lǐ)案件，那麽必然會涉及到在事實認定和(hé)法律适用(yòng)方面的(de)問題。事實認定上來(lái)講，公正審理(lǐ)作爲大(dà)前提，不管是從文化(huà)背景還(hái)是行爲習(xí)慣，法官都更爲容易理(lǐ)解本國一方主體的(de)行爲方式；法律适用(yòng)上來(lái)講，即使在一國法院需用(yòng)另一國的(de)法律來(lái)審理(lǐ)案件，作爲法院所在國法官，其判決思路很大(dà)可(kě)能上是先下(xià)結論，再用(yòng)另一國的(de)法律去解釋這(zhè)個(gè)結論，因而造成不同國家法院得(de)出截然不同的(de)判決結果，而疫情的(de)影(yǐng)響某種程度上會加重這(zhè)種可(kě)能性。

1.Litigation

  In the absence of a valid agreement on commercial arbitration, it is crucial to strive for jurisdiction in their own favor.Why?Once the judge of the court hears the case through litigation, it will inevitably involve problems in fact finding and law application.In fact, fair trial as a major premise, whether from the cultural background or behavior habits, the judge is more likely to understand the behavior of the party from the country rather than opposite; As far as the application of law is concerned, even if a court in one country needs to use the law of another country to hear a case, as a judge in the country where the court is located, his judgment is likely to draw a conclusion first and then use the law of another country to interpret this conclusion, thus resulting differently in different jurisdictions. The impact of the epidemic will to some extent aggravate this possibility .

2.國際仲裁

   仲裁員(yuán)的(de)選擇對(duì)于案件本身與法院法官的(de)影(yǐng)響是相似的(de)。他(tā)們都會根據自身已經了(le)解的(de)法律解釋體系去理(lǐ)解案件；仲裁機構作出的(de)裁決書(shū)需要經過執行所在國的(de)效力認可(kě)程序才能進一步強制執行。目前已經有一百二十多(duō)個(gè)國家和(hé)地區(qū)加入了(le)紐約公約，因此對(duì)于裁決書(shū)的(de)執行有一定保障。但因爲不同國家的(de)法制體系區(qū)别很大(dà)，因此從認可(kě)到執行仍然是需要根據各個(gè)國家地區(qū)的(de)不同情況而相應調整應對(duì)策略，包括但不限于時(shí)間跨度上、财産保全上、執行力度上以及破産制度上等等。

2. International Arbitration

The choice of arbitrators has similar impact on the case as the judges of the Court. They will understand the case according to the legal interpretation system they already know; The award made by the arbitration institution can be further enforced only after the validity approval procedure of the country where the enforcement is located.At present, more than 120 countries and regions have acceded to the New York Convention, so there is a certain guarantee for the enforcement of awards.However, because the legal systems of different countries are vastly different, it is still necessary to adjust the strategies according to the different situations in different jurisdictions, including but not limited to the time span, property preservation, enforcement and bankruptcy system.

總的(de)來(lái)說，對(duì)于正在履行的(de)合同，由于在法律适用(yòng)、風險轉移等方面都已經确定，因此我們著(zhe)重需要根據具體情況針對(duì)自身有利的(de)方式去進行合同履行、證據搜集确認、分(fēn)析案件具體情況以盡早作出合理(lǐ)準備。

    Generally speaking, for the contract being performed, because the application of law and the transfer of risk have been determined, we need to perform the contract, collect and confirm evidence, analyze specific details of the case in a way that is beneficial to ourselves in order to make reasonable preparations as soon as possible.

   針對(duì)疫情對(duì)國際貿易的(de)影(yǐng)響，綜合考慮各類條款可(kě)能對(duì)我方未來(lái)可(kě)能造成的(de)法律風險，合理(lǐ)權衡取舍。

    In view of the impact of the epidemic on international trade, we should consider the legal risks that may be caused by various provisions in the future, and make a reasonable trade-off.