International commercial law is a body of applicable rules, principles and customary practices that govern cross-border commercial activities of private parties. As such, international commercial law is part of private international law, while its international trade law counterpart, governing the trade relations between States, is part of international economic law, which is a branch of public international law. As rules, principles and customary practices applicable to cross-border transactions differ among cultures, there is a strong tendency for harmonization and unification of these.
This Research Guide is intended as a starting point for research on International Commercial Law. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library's subject heading (keyword) International Commercial Law is instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
Sources of international law
Treaties
- Goode, R. (et al.), Transnational commercial law : international instruments and commentary, 2012.
- Mankowski, P. (ed.), Commercial Law: Article-by-article Commentary, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019.
- Schwenzer, I. and Schroeter, U.G. (eds.), Kommentar zum einheitlichen UN-Kaufrecht, CISG, Fifth edition, Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press, 2022.
- Wiggers, W.J.H. (ed.), International Commercial Law : Source Materials : Corporate Governance ... INCOTERMS 2000, 2nd ed., Alphen aan den Rijn : Kluwer Law International, 2007.
Soft law
- Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts approved by the Hague Conference on Private International Law on 19 March 2015 = Principes Sur le Choix de la loi Applicable Aux Contrats Commerciaux Internationaux approuvé par la Conférence de la Haye de droit international privé le 19 mars 2015, 20 (2015), Uniform Law Review, No.2-3, pp. 362-489.
- UNIDROIT Legislative Guide on Intermediated Securities 2017
- UNIDROIT Model Law on Leasing 2008
- UNIDROIT Model Franchise Disclosure Law 2002
- UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts 2016
Reference works
- Baatz, Y. (ed.), Southampton on Shipping Law, 5th edition, Abingdon, Informa Law from Routledge, 2021.
- Béguin, J. et M. Menjucq (eds.), Droit du commerce international, Paris, LexisNexis, 2011.
- Berlingieri, F., International Maritime Conventions: Volume I: The Carriage of Goods and Passengers by Sea, Abingdon, Informa Law from Routledge, 2014.
- Brunner, C. and Gottlieb, B. (eds.), Commentary on the UN Sales Law (CISG), Alphen aan den Rijn, Kluwer Law International, 2019. [e-book]
- Chatillon, S., Droit des affaires internationales, Paris, Vuibert, 2011.
- Cuniberti, G., The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration: a Commentary, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2022. [e-book]
- Dalhuisen, J., Dalhuisen on Transnational Comparative, Commercial, Financial and Trade Law (3 volumes), Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2016.
- Esplugues Mota, C.A. (dir.), Derecho del Comercio Internacional, Valencia, Tirant lo Blanch, 2017.
- Ferrari, F. and Simowitz, A.D. (eds.), Forum shopping and international commercial law (Volume I), Cheltenham, Edgar Elgar Publishing, 2020.
- Galgano, F. e F. Marrella, Diritto del Commercio Internazionale, Padova, CEDAM, 2011.
- Girsberger, D., Graziano, T.K. and Neels, J.L. (eds.), Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts, Oxford, OUP, 2021. [e-book]
- Hutchison, A. and Myburgh, F. (eds.), Research Handbook on International Commercial Contracts, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020.
- Kessedjian, C., Droit du commerce international, Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 2013.
- Schwenzer, I. and Muñoz, E., Global Sales and Contract Law, Second edition, Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press, 2022.
- Twigg-Flesner, C., Foundations of International Commercial Law, Abingdon, Routledge, 2022.
Selected books and articles
- Barbou des Places, S. (ed.), Protectionnisme et droit de l'Union européenne, Paris, Pedone, 2014.
- Cachard, O., Droit du Commerce International, Paris, L.G.D.J., 2011.
- Carr, E. and Stone,P., International trade law, Abingdon, Routledge, 2018.
- Cuniberti, G., "Three Theories of Lex Mercatoria", Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 52 (2014), No. 2, pp. 369-434.
- Delas, O., Relations commerciales internationales: l'Union européenne et l'Amérique du Nord à l'heure de la nouvelle route de la soie, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2020.
- Davies, M. and D.V. Snyder, International Transactions in Goods : Global Sales in Comparative Context, New York, Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Fernández Rozas, J.C., R. Arenas García and P.A. de Miguel Asensio, Derecho de los Negocias Internacionales, Madrid, Iustel, 2011.
- Ferrari, F. and Gillette, C.P. (eds.), International Sales Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Folsom, R.H., International Business Transactions : a Problem-oriented Coursebook, St. Paul, MN, West, 2015.
- Gabriel, H.D., Toward Universal Principles: The Use of Non-Binding Principles in International Commercial Law (Professor Dr. Bruno Zeller Festschrift), International Trade and Business Law review, 17 (2014), No. 1, pp. 241-260.
- Gillette, C.P. and Walt, S.D., UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods : theory and practice, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2016.
- Girsberger, D. and Cohen, N.B., "Key Features of the Hague Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts", Uniform Law Review, 22 (2017), No. 2, pp. 316-335. [e-article]
- Hartley, T.C., International Commercial Litigation: Text, Cases and Materials on Private International Law, Third edition Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- Hoekstra, J., "Political Barriers in the Ratification of International Commercial Law Conventions", Uniform Law Review, 26 (2021), No. 1, pp. 43–66.
- Jessen, H. and Werner, M.J. (eds.), EU Maritime Transport Law (Brussels Commentary), München, C.H. Beck, 2016.
- Kono, T., Transnational Commercial and Consumer Law, Singapore, Springer, 2018.
- Litina, E., Theory, Law and Practice of Maritime Arbitration: The Case of International Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Sea, Alphen aan den Rijn, Kluwer Law International, 2021.
- Lohmann, A.M., The arbitrator's discretion in conflict of laws matters: Article 1(1) of the CISG in international arbitration, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2022. [e-book]
- Mukherjee, P.K., Mejia Jr., M.Q. and Xu, J. (eds.), Maritime Law in Motion, Cham, Springer, 2020.
- Patroni Griffi, U., and Belviso,F. (eds.), Manuale di diritto commerciale internazionale, Milano, Giuffrè, 2012.
- Ramberg, J., International Commercial Transactions, Paris, ICC, 2011.
- Rasche, R., "The United Nations and Transnational Corporations : How the UN Global Compact has changed the Debate, in Lawrence, J.T., and P.W. Beamish (eds.), Globally responsible leadership : managing according to the UN Global Compact, Los Angeles, SAGE, 2013, pp. 33-49.
- Saerens, P. and W. Pissoort, Droit Commercial International, Bruxelles, Larcier, 2013.
- Schilling, J., Das internationale Privatrecht der Transportverträge: die Bestimmung des Beförderungsvertragsstatuts im Spannungsfeld von Art. 5 Rom I-VO und materiellem Einheitstransportrecht, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2016.
- Tietje, C. und Nowrot, K. (eds.), Internationales Wirtschaftsrecht, 3., neu bearbeitete Auflage, Berlin, De Gruyter, 2022.
- Torsello, M., "A New (Quasi-)Codified Lex Mercatoria based on Soft Law Regulatory Competition and the Use of Comparative Law Methodology in International Commercial Arbitration", Ius Comparatum, 1 (2020), pp. 211-253.
- Vieillar, G., La contribution de la Commission des Nations Unies pour le droit commercial international (CNUDCI) à l'harmonisation et l'uniformisation du droit commercial international, Dijon, Université de Bourgogne, 2014.
- Wetzel, J. R.-M., Human Rights in Transnational Business: Translating Human Rights Obligations into Compliance Procedures, Cham, Springer, 2016.
Periodicals, serial publications
- International trade and business law review
- Journal of International Maritime Law
- Revue de droit des affaires internationales = International business law journal
- Uniform law review = Revue de droit uniforme / published by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
- Vindobona Journal of International Commercial Law & Arbitration
The Institute of International Commercial Law (IICL) has launched the Pace Law Albert H. Kritzer CISG Database. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is the law governing cross-border sale of goods transactions among the majority of the world’s trading nations. The Pace-IICL developed and maintains the CISG Database to promote cross-border trade and the rule of law. Access to this comprehensive legal collection is universal and free of charge.
The web site Lex Mercatoria (International Trade/Commercial Law Monitor) has many international agreements and documents in trade and related areas (contracts, sales, arbitration, etc.). Organized by major categories, this site offers a subject index, a search mechanism, and links to other sites.
The Maritime Law Handbook, edited and updated by Christian Breitzke and Jonathan Lux, provides an essential practice guide to international maritime law. It shows an unmatched country-by-country overview of arrest of vessels, enforced sale of vessels, registration of vessels, and mortgage on vessels. Texts of most relevant conventions, regularly updated are included.
- Répertoire de droit international: Transports aériens – Jean-Pierre TOSI – Février 2008 (actualisation: Janvier 2021)
- UNILEX [PPL info]
- Bibliotheque du Commerce international (Glossaire)
- Guide on the Harmonization of International Commercial Law, by Duncan Alford
- Hors Série Vol XIX, 2015 - Trade Development through Harmonization of Commercial Law
- ICC releases Incoterms 2020
- Revised Guide to International Trade Law Sources on the Internet, by M. Hoffman
- UNCITRAL Online Resources and Webcasts