CISG第79條下的旅行不能與艱難情形：語境與解釋

Impossibility and Hardship under CISG Article 79： Its Context and Interpretation

本文將探討《聯合國國際貨物買賣合同公約》（CISG）所規定的免責條款，並研究適合CISG第79條履行障礙的有關案例。本文要研究的問題是，是否第79條＂履行障礙＂一詞涵蓋情勢變更、履行不實際以及艱難情形？抑或，其僅限於履行不能、不可抗力等＂絕對＂免責？文章在簡要闡述德國法、美國法以及國際統一司法協會（UNIDROIT）《國際商事合同通則》（PICC）、《歐洲合同法通則》（PECL）的免責規定基礎上，詳盡分析了一系列適用CISG的案例，借以明晰第79條所提及和未提及的概念和問題，例如，＂控制範圍＂和＂風險分配＂的重要性，利用＂意外事件＂來判定是否構成履行障礙，是否交付不符貨物也構成履行障礙免責事由，以及基於給予免責目的，某一事件是否可以是可預見但卻未預見（foreseeable and yet not for-eseen）的。

This article will examine the law of excuse as espoused in the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). It will examine the relevant case law applying the doctrine of impediment in CISG Article 79. The question posed in this analysis is whether the word “impediment” includes changed circumstances, impracticability, and cases of hardship? Or, does the impediment doctrine of Article 79 limit exemptions to “absolute” excuse (impossibility, force majeure). A brief review of German and American legal is provided, as well excuse under the UNIDROIT’s Principles of International Commercial Contracts and the Principles of European Contract Law. An examination of the CISG case law is undertaken to determine the concepts and issues addressed or left unaddressed by Article 79, such as , the importance of “sphere of control” and “ allocation of risk”; use of an “extraordinary event” approach to determine impediment; whether the delivery of defective goods is a ground for impediment; and whether an event can be both foreseeable and yet not foreseen for purposes of granting an exemption from liability.