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2024年12月30日，自2025年1月1日起集中受理涉外商事及仲裁司法審查等案件。

2025年2月13日，上海國際商事法庭敲響“第一槌”，由上海一中院院長吳金水擔任審判長，審判員何云、劉麗園共同組成合議庭公開審理并當庭宣判了一起國際貨物買賣合同糾紛二審案。該案就《聯合國國際貨物銷售合同公約》（以下簡稱CISG或公約）項下國際貨物買賣違約方逾期付款情形下應當支付利息標準問題，在全國法院首次參考適用CISG咨詢委員會第14號咨詢意見（以下簡稱第14號意見）作出終審裁判。

本案系一起涉及一家德國公司與一家中國貿易公司之間的國際貨物買賣合同糾紛。德國公司向中國公司出售工業配件，交貨后多次催討貨款未果，遂向法院提起訴訟，要求支付拖欠貨款及逾期付款利息。一審法院支持了德國公司的訴求，中國公司不服，上訴至上海國際商事法庭。

本案的核心爭議點之一在于：在國際貨物買賣中，買方逾期付款時，利息的起算點和利率標準應如何確定？中國和德國均為CISG締約國，且當事人未排除公約的適用，因此本案應適用CISG的規定。然而，CISG第78條雖規定買方逾期付款需支付利息，但未明確利息的具體標準，各國司法實踐也存在差異。

中國公司主張，利率是《公約》范圍之外的問題，參考聯合國貿易法委員會《關于〈聯合國國際貨物銷售合同公約〉判例法摘要匯編》意見，利率問題應適用我國國際私法規則，且與我國連接點更多，應當適用中國法律確定利率標準。

德國公司則認為，應參考CISG咨詢委員會第14號意見，直接適用債權人營業地即德國法律認定利率，而不需再根據法院地法的國際私法規則指引確定法律。

上海國際商事法庭二審認為，在國際貿易中，可預見性對交易雙方至關重要。CISG第7條第1款也強調解釋公約要考慮其國際性和促進統一適用。CISG咨詢委員會由全球權威專家學者組成，旨在解決各國適用公約的疑難問題，推動公約統一解釋和適用，其發布的咨詢意見有重要參考價值。

第14號意見指出，公約第78條規定的利息屬于對債權人的損害賠償，可直接適用債權人營業地法律確定利息起算點和利率標準，無需再通過國際私法規則指引。該意見契合CISG 立法宗旨，有利于公約統一適用。

最終，法院以德國公司所在地法律為準據法確定利率標準，并結合其他爭議事項認定，當庭作出駁回上訴、維持原判的終審判決。

本案是全國法院首次參照CISG咨詢委員會第14號意見作出終審裁判的案例，具有重要的示范意義。CISG作為國際貿易爭端解決領域的核心公約，旨在統一成員國在國際貿易中的法律適用。本案的審理體現了我國法院對CISG的精準理解和適用，為推進CISG在全球司法實踐中的統一適用貢獻了中國樣本。該案的審理也彰顯了我國法院的國際視野和國際化審判水平，對于推進涉外法治建設，打造市場化、法治化、國際化一流營商環境具有重要實踐意義。

《聯合國國際貨物銷售合同公約》于1980年在維也納通過，已在90多個國家生效實施，堪稱國際貨物買賣統一法，在國際貿易爭端解決中具有舉足輕重的地位。中國于1986年加入，1988年公約對我國生效。

CISG是不同國家和法律體系調和的成果，無法涵蓋國際貨物銷售所有法律問題。為推動公約準確理解和統一適用，CISG咨詢委員會于2001年成立。委員會發布了超20條咨詢意見，涉及合同無效后果、公約適用排除情形、逾期付款利息等多方面，在全球案件爭議解決中發揮著越來越重要的作用，本案則是我國法院參考第14號意見作出終審認定的首個司法案例。

《聯合國國際貨物銷售合同公約》是國際商事法律的核心公約之一，中國于1986年起即加入CISG，CISG的精準適用對于我國參與塑造國際貿易新秩序及貫徹“一帶一路”倡議均具有重大意義。CISG咨詢委員會的成立旨在解決各國裁判實踐中適用《公約》遇到的疑難問題，促進CISG的統一解釋和適用。本案的創新之處及重要價值在于：CISG未明確規定逾期付款利率標準，上海國際商事法庭通過參考CISG咨詢委員會第14號意見，準確理解和適用CISG相關條款，依法平等保護了國際商事交易中的債權人權益，對確保CISG這部國際貨物買賣統一法在全球司法實踐中的準確適用具有重要意義。該案審理也彰顯了上海國際商事法庭的國際視野和國際化裁判水準，為全球司法實踐提供了極具價值的參考范例，有力地維護了國際貨物買賣法規則的統一適用。

部分上海人大代表、政協委員以及中央電視臺、上海電視臺媒體記者旁聽了本案庭審。

On December 30, 2024, the Shanghai International Commercial Court was officially established. Since January 1, 2025, the Court has had centralized jurisdiction over foreign-related commercial cases and judicial review of arbitration cases, etc.

On February 13, 2025, the Shanghai International Commercial Court held its first court trial. Wu Jinshui, President of the Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court, served as the presiding judge. He and judges He Yun and Liu Liyuan formed the collegial panel. They publicly heard and pronounced judgment in court for a second-instance case concerning a dispute on the contract for the international sale of goods. In this case, the Court made a final judgment on the issue of the interest rate to be paid by the defaulting party in the event of overdue payment under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). This is the first time in China that a court refers to the CISG Advisory Council Opinion No. 14 (hereinafter referred to as Opinion No. 14) in a final judgment.

Case Background: International Trade Dispute, Overdue Payment Causes Controversy

This case involves a dispute between a German company and a Chinese trading company regarding a dispute on the contract for the international sale of goods. The German company sold industrial parts to the Chinese company, but after delivery, the German company repeatedly requested payment but failed. As a result, the German company filed a lawsuit demanding payment of the outstanding amount and interest for overdue payment. The first-instance court supported the German company's claim. Dissatisfied with the decision, the Chinese company appealed to the Shanghai International Commercial Court.

Disputed Issue: How Should the Overdue Payment Interest Rate be Determined?

One of the core issues in this case is that, in international sales of goods, when the buyer makes a overdue payment, how should the starting point for interest and the applicable interest rate be determined? In this case, both China and Germany have joined the CISG, and the parties of the contract have not excluded its application, so the provisions of the CISG should apply. However, although Article 78 of the CISG stipulates that interest must be paid in case of overdue payment by the buyer, it does not specify the exact standard of interest rate. There are also differences in the judicial practices in different countries.

The Chinese company argues that the interest rate is an issue outside the scope of the CISG. Referring to the UNCITRAL Digest of Case Law on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, the interest rate should be determined according to the rules of private international law in China, and China has a stronger connection in this case, so that Chinese law should be applied to set the interest rate.

The German company, on the other hand, contends that the CISG Advisory Council Opinion No. 14 should be referenced. The law of the creditor's place of business, namely German law, should be directly applied to determine the interest rate, without the need to identify the applicable law through the guidance of the rules of private international law of the forum.

Court Decision: Adopting the CISG Advisory Opinion, Protecting the Creditor’s Rights

The Shanghai International Commercial Court, in its second-instance judgment, held that predictability is crucial for both parties in international trade. Article 7(1) of the CISG also emphasizes that the interpretation of the Convention should consider its international character and the promotion of uniform application. The CISG Advisory Council, composed of global experts and scholars, aims to address challenging issues related to the application of the Convention and to promote its unified interpretation and application. The advisory opinions issued by the Council are of significant reference value.

Opinion No. 14 pointed out that the interest under Article 78 of the CISG is a form of compensation for the creditor’s loss, so the starting point for interest and the applicable interest rate should directly follow the law of the creditor’s place of business, without the need to apply the rules of private international law. This opinion aligns with the legislative purpose of the CISG and contributes to its uniform application.

Ultimately, the Court determined the interest rate based on the law of the jurisdiction where the German company is located, and after considering other disputed issues, rendered a final judgment in court, dismissing the appeal and upholding the original judgment.

Significance: The First Case Demonstrates the Court’s International Perspective and Promotes the Uniform Application of the CISG

This case is the first instance in Chinese courts where the CISG Advisory Council’s Opinion No. 14 was referenced in a final judgment, holding significant exemplary value. As a core convention in the field of international trade dispute resolution, the CISG aims to unify the legal application among member countries in international trades. The trial of this case reflects Chinese courts’ accurate interpretation and application of the CISG, contributing a Chinese sample to the global judicial practice of its uniform application. The case also highlights the the international perspective and internationalized adjudicative ability of Chinese courts. It is of great practical significance for promoting the construction of rule of law in foreign-related matters and creating a top-tier business environment which is market-oriented, rule-based, and internationally competitive.

Introduction to the CISG and its Advisory Council

The CISG was adopted in Vienna in 1980 and has come into force in over 90 countries, making it the unified law for international sales of goods and a cornerstone in resolving international trade disputes. China joined the CISG in 1986, and the Convention took effect in China in 1988.

The CISG is the result of harmonizing different national laws and legal systems, but it does not cover all legal issues in international sales. To promote accurate interpretation and uniform application of the Convention, the CISG Advisory Council was established in 2001. The Council has issued over 20 advisory opinions on specific matters, including the consequences of contract invalidity, exclusions of CISG application, overdue payment interest, etc. These opinions play an increasingly important role in resolving disputes in global cases. This case marks the first judicial decision in a Chinese court where the final judgment is made with reference to Opinion No. 14.

Expert Comment:Pioneering New Judgments，Facilitating the Unification of International Trade Rules

Han Shiyuan (Member of the CISG Advisory Council, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Law, Tsinghua University)

The CISG is one of the core conventions in the field of international commercial law. China has joined CISG since 1986, the accurate application of CISG is of significant importance for China’s participation in shaping the new order of international trade and for implementing the “Belt and Road” initiative. The establishment of the CISG Advisory Council aims to resolve the challenges encountered in the application of the Convention in the judicial practices in different countries, and to promote its unified interpretation and application.

The innovation and significant value of this case lie in the fact that while the CISG does not explicitly specify the interest rate for overdue payment, the Shanghai International Commercial Court, by referencing CISG Advisory Opinion No. 14, accurately interpreted and applied the relevant provisions of the CISG, thereby ensuring equal protection for the rights of creditors and debtors in international commercial transactions. This is of great significance for ensuring the precise application of the CISG in global judicial practice. The case also highlights the international perspective and internationalized adjudicative ability of the Shanghai International Commercial Court, providing a valuable reference for global judicial practice and strongly safeguarding the uniform application of the rules governing international sales of goods.

Some delegates to the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress, members of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee, as well as some media representatives from CCTV, Shanghai TV, etc., attended the trial.

文：劉麗園 陳碩

圖片：龔史偉

翻譯：施明宇

校對：聶妍鏵

值班編輯：郭葭