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International Trade Law (LAWS0255)

This module offers a study of the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers under contracts for the international sale of goods, focusing particularly on the English law of international trade.

The selling and purchasing of goods across territorial borders is a sophisticated commercial activity. International trade involves interlocking contracts, including letters of credit and contracts of sale, carriage and insurance, all of which concern the minds of traders whilst performing this activity for profit. In pursuit of certainty and predictability in their affairs, traders around the world typically refer to English law in their sale contracts as the governing law. This module covers all facets of CIF and FOB sales, ranging from contract formation to remedies, focusing on the problems when the interlocking contracts are not back-to-back. Due to the rise of containerisation, you will also study the IncotermsÒ Rules 2020 relevant to multimodal transport as well as the legal functions of multimodal transport documents under English law.

This module offers a study of the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers under contracts for the international sale of goods, focusing particularly on the English law of international trade. Students can study this course whether or not they have previous experience of international trade law.

Module Syllabus

  • Introduction to the law of international trade: The workings of international trade, the key concepts, the regulatory framework and Incoterms 2020
  • Passing of risk and property
  • CIF and FOB sales
  • Functions and significance of bills of lading and other shipping documents
  • Payment methods, letters of credit and UCP600
  • Remedies for breach of the sale contract

Please note this module does not cover questions of trade between nation states (e.g. matters relating to the World Trade Organisation).

Recommended Materials

  • Bridge M. (2023) Benjamin’s Sale Goods (12th edition) (Sweet & Maxwell)
  • Jack R, et al (2009) Documentary Credits (4th edition) (Tottel Publishing)
  • Bridge M.G. (2017) The International Sale of Goods (4th edition) (Oxford University Press)

Module reading lists and other module materials will be provided via online module pages, once students have made their module selections upon enrolment.

Preliminery Reading

  • Bridge M. (2023) Benjamin’s Sale Goods (11th edition) (Sweet & Maxwell), Chapter 1 (this book is available online through Westlaw)

Key information

Module details
Credit value:45 credits (450 learning hours)
Convenor:Dr Melis Ozdel
Other Teachers:

Prof. Paul Davies, Dr. Franziska Arnold-Dwyer and Ms. Myrto Tachia

Teaching Delivery:20 x 2-hour weekly lectures, Term One and Two
Who may enrol:LLM students only
Prerequisites:None
Must not be taken with:None
Qualifying module for:

LLM in International Commercial Law

LLM in Maritime Law

Assessment
Practice Assessment:One Formative Essay
Final Assessment:In Person Controlled Condition Exam (100%)