CISG Methodology

Book excerpt: The Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is now being applied extensively both by international arbitral tribunals and by domestic courts of its more than 70 Member States. But do they also apply it in the same manner? Although Article 7 of the CISG underscores "the need to promote uniformity in its application," it gives little guidance as to how to achieve this goal. Each judge and arbitrator is influenced by the legal methodology of his home jurisdiction. Therefore it is somewhat of a paradox that while the number of Member States is constantly increasing, so too is the threat of variation in application. In this book, the most important issues of the CISG's methodology are analyzed by leading experts from five continents. Some contributors provide a thorough analysis of the central topics of interpretation while others enter almost uncharted territories.