Also known as: United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods · CISG · UN CISG · Vienna Convention · Vienna Sales Convention
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A multilateral treaty that supplies uniform substantive rules for the formation and performance of contracts for the international sale of goods between parties whose places of business are in different contracting states.
Uptown Apparel, a U.S. company, and Unity Capital, a foreign manufacturer, enter a supply agreement. Uptown seeks to enforce an overtime standard drawn from an unimplemented international accord through a presidential memorandum. The hearing officer rejects the claim because the accord lacks implementing legislation and the memorandum cannot create domestic rights.
Umar Usmani of Uptown Apparel negotiates an oral deal for ceramic tiles with a foreign seller before signing a form contract. When the seller later claims reverse-side terms control, the court admits Usmani's affidavits showing the parties never intended those terms to apply.
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The CISG permits contract formation without a writing. Courts therefore admit evidence of oral agreements and subjective intent when interpreting the parties' deal.
The CISG applies when both parties have places of business in different contracting states and the contract involves the sale of goods. Removal to federal court is proper once the treaty is shown to govern the claims.
A buyer may reject goods that fail to conform to the contract specifications and may recover damages after unsuccessful cure attempts by the seller.