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.
- Leloudas, G., P.S. Dempsey and L. Chassot (eds.), The Montreal Convention: A Commentary, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023.
- Mankowski, P. (ed.), Commercial Law: Article-by-article Commentary, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019.
- Schwenzer, I.H. et al. (eds.), Kommentar zum UN-Kaufrecht (CISG): Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen über Verträge über den internationalen Warenkauf, 8., neu bearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage, Müchen, Basel: C.H.Beck, Helbing & Lichtenhahn, LexisNexis, 2025.
- Schwenzer, I. and Schroeter, U.G. (eds.), Kommentar zum einheitlichen UN-Kaufrecht, CISG, Fifth edition, Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press, 2022.
- Sturley, M.F., T. Fujita and G. van der Ziel, The Rotterdam Rules: The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, Second edition, Sweet & Maxwell, Thomson Reuters, 2020.
- Thume, K.-H. and O. Hartenstein (eds.), CMR: Übereinkommen über den Beförderungsvertrag im internationalen Straßengüterverkehr, 4., aktualisierte Auflage, Frankfurt am Main, Fachmedien Recht und Wirtschaft in Deutscher Fachverlag GmbH, 2025.
- 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
- Brödermann, E.J., UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts: an article-by-article Commentary, Second edition, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2023.
- 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.
- Chuah, Jason. Law of International Trade : Cross-Border Commercial Transactions. Seventh ed., Sweet & Maxwell, 2023.
- Cordero-Moss, G., International Commercial Contracts: Contract Terms, Applicable Law and Arbitration, Second edition, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2024.
- 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.
- 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.
Recent books and peer-reviewed articles
- Boonk, H., Bills of Lading and Charterparties in Maritime Law. Zutphen, Uitgeverij Paris, 2024.
- Bridge, M.G., The International Sale of Goods, Fifth edition, Oxford University Press, 2023.
- Carballo Piñeiro, L. and M.Q. Mejia (eds.), The Elgar Companion to the Law and Practice of the International Maritime Organization, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
- Dalhuisen, J. H., Dalhuisen on Transnational and Comparative Commercial, Financial and Trade Law. Volume 1, the Transnationalisation of Commercial and Financial Law: The New Lex Mercatoria and Its Sources. Eighth edition, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2022.
- 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.
- Esplugues Mota, C. and M.M. Albornoz (eds.), Derecho Del Comercio Internacional Mexicano, Ciudad de México, Tirant lo Blanch, 2024.
- Fox, W.F. and Y. Dautaj, International Commercial Agreements, Seventh edition, Alphen aan den Rijn, Wolters Kluwer, 2023.
- Gulati, Rishi, et al., editors. The Elgar Companion to UNCITRAL. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023.
- Hartley, T.C., International Commercial Litigation: Text, Cases and Materials on Private International Law, Third edition Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- 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.
- Luo, J. and P. Guo, The Uniform Interpretation of the UN Sales Convention (CISG), Singapore, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., 2024.
- Mukherjee, P.K., Mejia Jr., M.Q. and Xu, J. (eds.), Maritime Law in Motion, Cham, Springer, 2020.
- Tietje, C. und Nowrot, K. (eds.), Internationales Wirtschaftsrecht, 3., neu bearbeitete Auflage, Berlin, De Gruyter, 2022.
- Torrecillas López, S., Contratos mercantiles: contratación internacional, Cizur Menor, Aranzadi, 2023.
- Witz, C., Vente Internationale de Marchandises: Conventions de Vienne et de New York: Contrat - Prescription, Deuxième édition, Paris, Dalloz, 2023.
For all peer-reviewed articles in the PPL Catalogue, click here.
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]