Data

Date:
13-05-2008
Country:
Arbitral Award
Number:
13/2007
Court:
International Arbitration Court of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Parties:
Unknown

Keywords

SALES CONTRACT - BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND CANADIAN COMPANIES - GOVERNED BY CISG

PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS - NOT DUE IF FAILURE DUE TO EXEMPTING EVENT ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 79 CISG

INTEREST FOR DELAYED PAYMENT (ARTICLE 78 CISG) - DUE EVEN IF DELAY DUE TO EXEMPTING EVENT - REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 7.4.9 UNIDROIT PRINCIPLES "REFLECTING UNDERSTANDING GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL PRACTICE"

Abstract

Claimant, a Russian company, entered into a contract with Respondent, a Canadian company, for the delivery of certain goods. While Claimant duly performed its obligation to pay the whole price in advance, Respondent delivered only part of the goods and some of the goods delivered were defective. When Claimant requested the return of part of the price as well as the payment of the stipulated penalty for partial delivery and interest for the delayed return of part of the price, Respondent objected that its failure to perform the contract properly was due to an exempting event according to Article 79 CISG. The Arbitral Tribunal, while accepting Respondent’s objection with respect to the payment of the penalty, found that payment of interest for the delayed return of part of the price was due irrespective of whether or not the delay was caused by an exempting event. The Arbitral Tribunal based its decision on “the understanding generally accepted in the international commercial practice as reflected in the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts […] prepared by UNIDROIT with the participation of both Russian and Canadian specialists” and referred in particular to Article 7.4.9 and the accompanying comments of the UNIDROIT Principles which expressly state that interest is due even if the delay in payment is the consequence of force majeure.

Fulltext

“[…] The claims for recovery of the penalty for the partial delivery and for payment of interest for delay in repayment of money are the result of two different breaches made by the Respondent. The contract provided for the right to demand payment of the appropriate sum with regard to each of them. Though for release from payment of the penalty for the partial delivery of the goods the Respondent has to prove the circumstances exempting him from liability (in accordance with the contract and Article 79 of the Vienna Convention), the interest for delay in repayment of money is to be paid irrespectively of whether a party is exempt from liability for the non-payment. Such understanding is generally accepted in the international commercial practice, what was reflected in the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts both in the edition of 1994 and in the edition of 2004 (Article 7.4.9 (Interest for failure to pay money)). These Principles together with the Comments on them were worked out by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) with participation of both Russian and Canadian specialists. The Comment on Article 7.4.9 expressly states that even if the delay in payment is the consequence of force majeure, interest will still be due […]”}}

Source

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